The author presents a description of a technique he developed called laser office ventilation of ears (LOVE). LOVE, an office-based procedure performed under local anesthesia, can provide intermediate-term ventilation for middle ear disease. This procedure has potential to change the standard of care for otitis media. Such changes might include a decrease in the need for antibiotics (and thus antibiotic resistance), a decrease in hearing loss associated with otitis media, and a decrease in the overall cost of treatment.
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Proceedings of a satellite symposium held at the 8th ECCMID, Lausanne, Switzerland (May 26, 1997). Antibiotic resistance in otitis media: Clinical problem or hypothetical risk? Ear Nose Throat J1998;77(suppl):1–22.
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CohenD, SiegelG.KrespiJ, Middle ear laser office ventilation (LOV) with a CO2 laser flashscanner. J Clin Laser Med Surg1998;16(2):107–9.