title: Complications of long-term ventilation tubes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate that ventilation tubes can remain in situ much longer than expected, and that the materials used in the manufacturing of these tubes can degrade and cause complications. Long-term follow up and replacement of the tube is recommended.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report and review of the literature concerning the use of long-term ventilation tubes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the case reported, the ventilation tube was in place for 19 years, which resulted in chronic ear discharge. When it was removed, it was noted that the tube itself had degraded and had caused a chronic inflammatory reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that the long-term use of ventilation tubes is followed up and that the tube is replaced before material degradation takes place.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Oxford, UK. hmohammed@nhs.net
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinez-Devesa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors