title: Ventilation tube removal: does treatment affect perforation closure?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study goal was to determine whether treatment of the tympanic membrane at the time of ventilation tube (VT) removal affects closure of the perforation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective chart review and telephone follow-up of children who underwent VT removal from 1995 through 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 109 patients (162 ears; 58% male), the mean age at VT removal was 6.7 years. Most VTs (59%) were T-tubes, and most (91%) were removed because of prolonged retention (mean 2.3 years). After VT removal, 111 ears (69%) received treatment, most commonly (44%) with 25% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). At the latest follow-up, 151 of the ears (93%) had healed without additional treatment. Treatment failure occurred more frequently in ears not initially treated with TCA (TCA 3% failure, other treatment 13%, no treatment 8%) and in ears with VTs removed because of otorrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most perforations healed. TCA may promote closure, but a large randomized clinical trial is needed to eliminate physician bias.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Kara M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Orvidas
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Thieling
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology