title: Tympanostomy tubes: do they significantly benefit the patient?
abstract: To gain more information about the role of tympanostomy tubes in the treatment of chronic middle ear effusion, the authors conducted a randomized trial that clearly indicated the short-term advantages of combining the insertion of an Armstrong ventilator tube with paracentesis and fluid aspiration over paracentesis and aspiration alone. A retrospective study of the success rate with three types of tympanostomy tubes (Shepard, Armstrong, and Paparella) was also carried out. The Armstrong tube had the highest success rate.
authors.affiliation: Eye and Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome