Seletive use of ventilating tubes in the treatment of secretory otitis media and retractions of the ear drum

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of ventilating tubes (VT) in cleft palate children. Twenty patients younger than 1 year with bilateral SOM were treated with VT bilaterally. In 68 % of all ears the VT had to be removed within 1 year due to otorrhea or movement of the VT in the ear drum, or both. Forty patients 2 years of age with bilateral SOM were treated with unilateral VT. 20 % developed otorrhea within 1 year but the VT could be kept in place. 10 % of VT had to be removed due to granulation formation. In 89 % below the age of 6 years, retractions of the ear drum could effectively be treated with VT. Ten patients, older than 6 years, had retractions of the ear drum. In 25 % of cases the ear drum regained normal position after treatment with VT. The use of unilateral VT is advocated even in bilateral eases of SOM and gave satisfactory results in 62 % of patients. A restricted use of VT in infancy seems wise.