Laser Surgery via Video Otoscope

One of the primary caused of otitis externa that we see in dogs and cats is a tumour in the ear canal. Tumours inside the ear cause otitis by occluding the ear canal  and changing the microenvironment , creating favourable conditions for bacteria and yeasts to proliferate and eventually leading to infection, discharge and pain.  In the past, the only way of dealing with these tumours was to either remove them with biopsy forceps via video otoscopy if they were very small  or with major surgery, either a lateral wall resection, vertical canal ablation or sometimes a total ear canal ablation (TECA-LBO) if they were larger.  Even if small tumours could be removed it was difficult to be sure that all tumour tissue had been removed and if the tumour was malignant then it could recur and still risk spreading to other parts of the body.

Another way of treating these tumours is to use a laser directed to the site via an optical fiber that can be passed down the channel of a video otoscope.  The laser can then be used to vaporise the tumour in situ if it is small  or to treat the remnants of the tumour after it has been debulked by traction or by the use of fexible biopsy forceps to cut it away from the ear canal wall.

I have now purchased at Diode Laser from  UK company Excel Lasers which means I can now offer alternatives to much more expensive and risky sharp surgery for the removal of ear tumours and other lesions inside the ear canal. The laser energy is passed down a 600microm wide optical fiber from the unit pictured, to produce an extremely localised area of intense heat that will cut, coagulate or vaporise tissue with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.

Here is a video of a recent case I treated.  Charley had a Ceruminous Gland Adenocarcinoma  almost completely occluding the ear canal and there was a secondary pseudomonas otitis.  After debulking the tumour, which luckily had a fairly narrow base, and waiting for the histopathology report, I went back in with the laser to destroy any remnants of this malignant tumour which would have been present.

This diode laser is also an excelent tool for treating  other lesios in  the ear canal such as:

  • Cerumuminous gland adenomatosis in cats
  • Polypoid ceruminous gland hyperplasia in dogs – this is where this laser will getting most of its use. It can speed up the resolution of this pathology which offten occurs in chronic otitis and although can sometimes be treated successfully with steroids over several weeks, does not always  clear up. Laser ablation of theses lesions is a much faster and more effective way of dealing with theses lesions which are a perpetuating factor in otitis.

More videos will be posted showing the laser being used to treat these two conditions.

Feline Ceruminous Gland Adenomatosis

Polypoid Ceruminous Gland Hyperplasia

Laser Removal of Lesion Attached to Ruptured Ear Drum

Alice has a history of otitis of several months’ duration. Her ear drum was ruptured and there was a fleshy growth attached to the ruptured edge.  The growth was removed with biopsy forceps and sent off for histopathology. The remnants of the growth were ablated using the diode laser. Healing was rapid and within 2 weeks the ear drum was completely healed. Histopathology showed this mass to be exuberant granulation tissue and not a tumour.

 

Polypoid Hyperplasia- Successful treatment with laser over several months- NO TECA-LBO NECESSARY

Patch came to see me with a very long history of otitis of over a year’s duration with a ruptured ear drum in one ear. This case would normally have been sent straight for surgery for a bilateral TECA-LBO , but n his owners were keen to try avoid surgery if at all possible,  It took 4 separate sessions with the laser via video otoscopy to successfully remove all hyperplastic tissue and get the otitis cured. He is now doing very well just using hydrocortisone aceponate spray in the ear canals twice