َDrill- and suction generated noise levels in mastoid surgery

Document Type : Original

Authors

1 Ahwaz, PO Box 1198-61555

2 Member of the scientific board of Audiology Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences.

3 Professor, member of the scientific staff of the Ear, Throat and Nose Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: It has been recognized that noise levels generated during ear surgery may cause sensorineural hearing loss. However, there is a controversy about the main factor that may cause such hearing threshold alternations: drilling, suction or both of them. The purpose of this investigation was to measure the air-conduction noise levels generated by common drills, burrs and suction irrigators in mastoid surgery.
Materials and Methods: Our evaluations were carried out in two states: isolated temporal bones (cadavers) and intraoperative recordings. Preliminary drillings were made on 10 cadavers, and intensity and frequency analysis of common diamond and cutting burrs were performed. Then, the noise levels generated by drilling, suction irrigation and simultaneous drilling & suction irrigation were measured from 15 patients under radical modified mastoidectomy. Data were analyzed by SPSS 11 software and 0.05 value was regard as significant level.
Results: The average noise levels of drilling ranged from 83 to 95 dB SPL, varying with burr used. Cutting burrs were found to be up to more intense than diamond burrs. Mean suction irrigation noise levels ranged from 77.45 to 78.65 dB SPL. The average of "intraoperative drilling" and "simultaneous drilling and suction irrigation" generated noise levels were 87.14 and 86.26 dB SPL, respectively. The comparison of resultant noise levels between cadaver and under operation situations was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Our results showed that the main factor contributing the highest noise level is drilling which is predominately apparent in cutting burrs. Exposure to these noise levels may account for shifts in the hearing thresholds.
 
 

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 19, Issue 50 - Serial Number 50
January and February 2008
Pages 191-198

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