title: Does ENT outpatient review at 1-week post ventilation tube insertion improve outcome at 1 month in paediatric patients?
abstract: The aims of this study were to see if ENT review at 1 week following ventilation tube insertion in paediatric patients reduced the complication rate and the number of consultations with the general practitioner in the first postoperative month. Sixty-six children were prospectively randomized into two follow-up groups: group A was reviewed at 1 week and 1 month and group B at 1 month only. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative otorrhoea (P = 0.59), ventilation tube patency (P = 0.44), ventilation tube extrusion rate (P = 0.64) and number of consultations with the general practitioners (GP) for postoperative otorrhoea (P = 0.19) between the two groups at 1 month. In conclusion, there seems to be no advantage with early postventilation tube insertion review as it does not reduce complications or decrease the GP consultation rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield, UK. hcwallace@lycos.co.uk
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: C J R
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Newbegin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D009819:Office Visits; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome