[A pilot study of sulfur hexa fluoride (sf6) injection into middle ears. An alternative to prevent atelectatic ears (author's transl)].

A new method to prevent middle ear atelectasis is presented. Sulfur Hexa Fluoride (SF6), a synthetic inert gas with a very low water solubility, has been injected into the middle ears of two patients with a long-standing conductive hearing loss due to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The hearing gain expressed as lowered air-bone gaps lasted 6--10 weeks. No side effects were noted. In a later serie children with serous otitis media will be treated in the same way and followed with tympanograms and gas analyses of the gas mixture within their middle ears.