Ventilation tube duration versus site of placement.
BACKGROUND
The duration a ventilation tube remains in the tympanic membrane is thought to be related to the design of the ventilating tube, and to the site of placement of the ventilation tube into the tympanic membrane. Theoretically a ventilating tube placed superiorly should remain longer than one placed inferiorly.


METHODS
A prospective study was designed to test the hypothesis that ventilation tubes placed into the antero-superior quadrant of the tympanic membrane remained longer than those placed into the antero-inferior quadrant.


RESULTS
In 106 children no statistically significant difference in duration was identified using three designs of ventilation tube.


CONCLUSIONS
Ventilating tubes placed antero-superiorly into the tympanic membrane do not have a longer duration than those placed antero-inferiorly.
Walker
P
P
Department of Surgery, John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014432:Tympanic Membrane