title: Equivalent ear canal volumes in children pre- and post-tympanostomy tube insertion.
abstract: Pre- and postoperative equivalent ear canal volume measures were obtained from a group of 334 children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 6.7 years. The purpose of the study was to develop volumetric guidelines for the determination of tympanostomy tube patency. For children 4 years and older, almost no ambiguity existed in making this determination accurately. For younger children, the pre- and postoperative distributions overlap. A criterion value of greater than or equal to 1.0 cm3 as an indicator of a tympanic membrane perforation appears to yield the lowest possible error rate. When both pre- and postoperative measures are available, a difference of greater than or equal to 0.4 cm3 can be used in conjunction with the absolute value to identify a patent tympanostomy tube.
authors.affiliation: VA Medical Center, Long Beach, California.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Stelmachowicz
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Beauchaine
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schulte
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009225:Myringoplasty; D012737:Sex Factors