Paediatric otitis media surgery in Norway.
CONCLUSIONS
In Norway there are large, regional differences in the incidence of surgery and combinations of surgery for otitis media.


OBJECTIVE
A descriptive study of complete national administrative data on frequency of surgery for otitis media in 2002.


METHODS
This study analysed anonymous patient data from the Norwegian patient registry for 2002 and measured rates of tympanostomy tube insertions, myringotomy and the combinations of adenoidectomies and tympanostomy tubes and myringotomy, respectively. Surgical rates were assessed by region and variations within the country were evaluated.


RESULTS
The peak age for surgical treatment of otitis media was 5 years. Tympanostomy tubes were inserted in more than half of the children treated and the analysis showed considerable regional variation in the rates and in choice of surgical treatment.
Karevold
Gunnhild
G
Faculty Division of Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway. gunnhild@karevold.no
Haapkylä
Johanna
J
Pitkäranta
Anne
A
Nafstad
Per
P
Kvaerner
Kari Jorunn
KJ
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery