Myringotomy with or without ventilation tube in management of children with otitis media with effusion: A comparative study

Ahmed, Hamza E; Abdel-Hameed, Mohamed M; Mohamed, Mohamed A

doi:10.21608/ejnso.2022.222803

Myringotomy with or without ventilation tube in management of children with otitis media with effusion: A comparative study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Otorhinolaryngology department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.

² Otorhinolaryngology department, El-Helal hospital for health insurance, Sohag, Egypt

³ Otorhinolaryngology department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

10.21608/ejnso.2022.222803

Abstract

Introduction: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is defined as inflammation of the middle ear (ME) space accompanied by fluid collection without signs or symptoms of acute infection.
Aim of the work: This study aimed to compare the functional outcome and complications of myringotomy with and without VT in management of children with OME for whom surgery was justified.
Patients and methods: We compared the results of treating children with bilateral OME refractory to conservative treatment by myringotomy with and without VT. Patients were followed up for six months after surgery. The primary outcome measure was hearing status at one week; three and six-month follow up visits. Secondary outcome measures were intraoperative and postoperative complications and recurrence of OME during follow-up.
Results: At one week after surgery, there was subjective hearing improvement in all patients. Myringotomy was found closed in 13 ears in the RT side. Ventilation tube was found blocked by blood in three ears in the LT side. Subjective hearing improvement was maintained at 3rd month follow up with no significant difference between both sides. At the 6th month follow up-however- hearing was significantly better in the LT side. Complications were generally few. Intraoperative bleeding and post-operative discharge were more and recurrent effusion was less with VT insertion.
Conclusion: Myringotomy with ventilation tube is superior to myringotomy alone. For better hearing outcome, insertion of ventilation tube should be done in all children with OME when surgery is indicated.

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