title: Evaluation of ventilating tubes and myringotomy in the treatment of recurrent or persistent otitis media.
abstract: In a prospective controlled study of the efficacy and sequelae of ventilating tubes, 44 children with bilateral recurrent acute otitis media (greater than 6 episodes/year) and 13 children with bilateral persistent middle ear effusion (greater than 3 months) received unilateral ventilating tube insertion in a randomly selected ear. The contralateral ears were randomized to receive either myringotomy alone or no surgery. Clinical, otoscopic, tympanometric and audiologic examinations were performed before the study and 2 to 4 weeks later, then at 3-month intervals for up to 2 years and at 36 months after surgical randomization. Medical therapy and antibiotic prophylaxis were used whenever indicated. While the ventilating tubes remained functional (mean duration, 10 months) the ears with a tube had significantly fewer episodes of otitis media than their contralateral ear (P less than 0.001; 95% confidence intervals -0.7, -1.7) and had more hearing improvement (P = 0.005; 95% confidence intervals, -5.9, -1.2). After tube extrusion there was a tendency for surgically treated ears to have more otitis and worse hearing, but not at a significant level. Tympanosclerosis, retraction and atrophy were more common in ears that received tubes. The majority of ears treated medically also improved. There is need for a more cautious and selective use of ventilating tubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95403-2192.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Fireman
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents