Effect of Surgical Start Time on Stapedotomy Outcomes.

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 MEASURES 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 = 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 = 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.