Ventilation tubes and cholesteatoma in children.
The previous use of ventilation tubes has been investigated retrospectively in a series of children whose ears had been operated on. Within a six-year period, 49 ears had a cholesteatoma documented, and in 14 of these a tube had been used. During the same period, 64 ears were operated on for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma, and of these only three ears had been treated with a tube. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0.0004). A final conclusion is not possible from this information and more research is needed, but the study indicates the importance of a long-term follow-up of children who have been treated with ventilation tubes.
D000293:Adolescent; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000209:etiology*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors