title: Lens tube vs Donaldson tube: results of a prospective study comparing a new with a conventional ventilation tube.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken in 72 children comparing a new type of tympanostomy tube, the Lens tube, in one ear, and a Donaldson tube in the contra-lateral ear as a control. The average survival times of the tubes differed significantly: 17.20 months for the Lens tube, and 11.31 months for the Donaldson tube (P < 0.001). By contrast, the relapse rate (22% with the Lens tube vs 21% with the Donaldson tube) after extrusion or extraction, and the residual perforation rate (3% with the Lens tube vs 6% with the Donaldson tube) were not significantly different. Otorrhea was not significantly different either: 25% with the Lens tube vs 16% with the Donaldson tube.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gordts
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Derde
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome