Prevention of early otorrhea in ventilation tubes.
The incidence of early postoperative otorrhea after placement of ventilation tubes ranges from 12% to 40%. This prospective randomized study of 430 children, ages 6 months to 15 years, examined the efficacy of sulfacetamide/prednisolone otic drops used for 3 days postoperatively in reducing the incidence of otorrhea at 1 week after the placement of Donaldson tubes. Subjects were randomized into two groups--drops and no drops. Preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative findings were correlated with findings. The incidence of otorrhea among all patients was 11.9%. The use of sulfacetamide/prednisolone drops for 3 days after insertion of ventilation tubes failed to reduce the incidence of otorrhea in the overall study population. The drops did demonstrate a trend toward reducing the incidence of otorrhea in certain subpopulations, including children under 3 years of age, blood at the myringotomy site, and thick middle ear effusions. Subpopulations associated with a higher incidence of otorrhea were also identified.
Epstein
J S
JS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Burlington, VT.
Beane
J
J
Hubbell
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013409:Sulfacetamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
D004338:Drug Combinations; D013409:Sulfacetamide; C009935:prednisolone acetate; D011239:Prednisolone