Factors affecting the persistence of tympanic membrane perforation developed with the extubation of ventilation tube.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which factors are associated with persistence of the tympanic membrane (TM) perforation detected after a spontaneous extrusion or surgical removal of a ventilation tube (VT).


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent ventilation tube insertion from 1995 to 2003 at our institution. We identified 909 ears in which we could see the final state of TM and found 89 ears that fitted the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Various factors were analyzed to determine the factors associated with persistence of a TM perforation after VT extrusion or removal in 89 ears, including age at the time of tube extrusion or removal, sex, extubation pattern, intubation period, reason for VT insertion, history of previous VT insertions, condition of the TM when a perforation was detected, and previous adenoidectomy.


RESULTS
Three factors were found to be statistically significant predictors of permanent perforation including age, extubation pattern and intubation period on univariate analysis. However, on multivariate analysis, extubation pattern, intubation period remained as statistically significant predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data shows that factors affecting the permanent TM perforation after the spontaneous extrusion or surgical removal of VT include extubation pattern and intubation period.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
Jin-Ho
JH
Yum
Yong-Soo
YS
Park
Eun-Ju
EJ
Jeon
Dong-Hyun
DH
Kim
Min Kyo
MK
Jung
Dong-Hee
DH
Lee
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods