Effect of Surgical Start Time on Stapedotomy Outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To examine if performing stapedotomy as the first case of the day provides improved outcomes compared with those performed later in the day. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Adult patients undergoing stapedotomy for otosclerosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Patients were separated into either a first case group or a later case group based on surgical start time. Audiologic outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The first case group had a smaller postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) compared with the later case group of 9.81 dB HL compared with 11.73dB HL and 3.79 dB HL compared with 6.29 dB HL at 1000 and 2000 Hz, respectively ( p ¼ 0.03, p < 0.01). The mean postoperative ABG was 10.63 dB HL for the first start group compared with 12.12 dB HL for the later start group, which was statistically significant ( p ¼ 0.05). Conclusions: First start stapedotomy is associated with slightly improved audiologic outcomes compared with those starting later in the day, although both groups had significantly improved postoperative outcomes overall. There was no significant difference in complications when comparing stapedotomy by case start time.