title: A randomized double-blind controlled trial of phosphorylcholine-coated tympanostomy tube versus standard tympanostomy tube in children with recurrent acute and chronic otitis media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the postoperative complication rates of phosphorylcholine-coated fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes versus uncoated fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective randomized double-blind controlled trial in children with recurrent acute otitis media and chronic otitis media with effusion; 240 children were randomized to receive a phosphorylcholine-coated tube in one ear and an uncoated tube in the other. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at 2 weeks and 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months to ascertain the incidence of otorrhea, tube lumen blockage, and early extrusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 240 children, 5 withdrew and 16 were lost to early follow-up. The mean age was 43.8 months. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of postoperative otorrhea, tube blockage, and extrusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phosphorylcholine-coated fluoroplastic ventilation tubes do not offer any advantages over uncoated standard fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine, Halifax, Nova Scocia, Canada. paulbanana2000@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Liane B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corsten
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D010767:Phosphorylcholine