title: Opening plugged tympanostomy tubes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the most effective solvents for dissolving plugged tympanostomy tubes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve solvents (including ototopical antibiotics and water) were applied to fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes (n = 260) plugged with dried mucoid middle ear effusion in an ear canal-tympanic membrane model. Time to clearance of the tympanostomy tubes was both visually and tympanometrically determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vinegar (P =.0030) and hyaluronidase solutions (P =.0030) were significantly better solvents than water.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vinegar and hyaluronidase solutions are more likely to clear plugged tympanostomy tubes than water and ototopical antibiotics, but vinegar is the preferred solution because of its known relative safety for use in the ear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Westine
authors.forename: Carla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Giannoni
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajewski
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009093:Mucus; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012997:Solvents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents