title: The role of myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion in maxillary swing approach nasopharyngectomy: review of our 10-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion after maxillary swing nasopharyngectomy was originally described to prevent the occurrence of otitis media with effusion. The outcome of this otologic procedure has never been reviewed and discussed. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion in this group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-two patients with maxillary swing nasopharyngectomy were recruited from 1999 to 2008. The otologic status was evaluated using otoscopy, pure tone audiogram, and tympanogram at 3 months, 6 months, and then yearly after the operation. The results were reviewed periodically during that 10-year period. During this period, there were three groups; the first group had myringotomy with ventilation tube inserted, the second group had myringotomy alone, and the third group had no myringotomy performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significantly (P < .0001) more patients in the myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion group who suffered from adverse otologic complications such as discharging grommet, discharging chronic suppurative otitis media, and perforated eardrum when compared with patients with myringotomy alone and patients without myringotomy at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. There were no differences in the incidence of acute otitis media among all three groups of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who underwent maxillary swing nasopharyngectomy and myringotomy with ventilation tube insertions suffered from more otologic complications. The routine use of myringotomy with or without ventilation tube insertion for this group of patients is not recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. ambroseho@hku.hk
authors.forename: Ambrose Chung-Wai
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Jimmy Yu-Wai
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Raymond Wai-Man
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Wai-Kuen
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: William Ignace
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D009225:Myringoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010611:Pharyngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome