Sequelae of otitis media with effusion among children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate.
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common among children with cleft palate, and may lead to such long-term consequences as hearing loss, tympanic membrane retraction, and chronic otitis media (COM). In total, 104 children with cleft lip and/or palate treated for OME at our institution were reviewed. Mean duration of follow-up was 6.9 years, and mean age at latest follow-up was 9.6 years. The incidence of COM was 19%, and the incidence of cholesteatoma was 1.9%. Ears showing such long-term sequelae of OME as hearing loss, tympanic membrane retraction, and chronic otitis media, were noted to have undergone a significantly greater number of ventilation tube insertions than ears not showing these sequalae. Our findings would suggest that a conservative approach to the management of OME in children with cleft palate is more likely to be beneficial in the long term.
Sheahan
P
P
Department of Otolaryngology, The Children's Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland. sheahanp@eircom.net
Blayney
A W
AW
Sheahan
J N
JN
Earley
M J
MJ
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications*