scholarly journals Tympanostomy Tube Selection: A Review of the Evidence

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Ho Sandra ◽  
David J Kay

ABSTRACT Tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion for ventilation of the middle ear is one of most commonly performed procedures in the United States. Indications for tube insertion include otitis media with effusion, recurrent acute otitis media, hearing loss caused by middle ear effusion and persistent acute otitis media. In general, TTs are divided into two categories, short-term tubes and long-term tubes. Depending on the indications for tube placement and surgeon experience with the TT, different tubes can be used. A myriad of tubes have been created since their first documented use in 1845 in attempts to provide better middle ear ventilation, improve ease of placement and prevent complications, such as post-tube otorrhea, persistent perforation and tube occlusion. In order for a tube to be effective, it should be biocompatible with the middle ear to minimize a foreign body reaction. Teflon and silicone remain two of the most commonly used materials in TTs. In addition, the tube design also plays a role for insertion and retention times of TTs. Lastly, TTs can also be coated with various substances, such as silver-oxide, phosphorylcholine and more recently, antibiotics and albumin, in order to prevent biofilm formation and decrease the rate of post-TT otorrhea. Persistent middle ear effusion affects many children each year and can impact their quality of life as well as hearing and language development. With nearly 1 out of every 15 children by the age of 3 years receiving TTs, it is imperative that the right tube be chosen to facilitate optimal ventilation of the middle ear while minimizing complications. How to cite this article Ho S, Kay DJ. Tympanostomy Tube Selection: A Review of the Evidence. Int J Head Neck Surg 2016;7(1):17-22.

1997 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 816-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Harrison ◽  
Stephen A. Chartrand ◽  
William Rodriguez ◽  
Richard Schwartz ◽  
Jay Pollack ◽  
...  

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 819-826
Author(s):  
Carla M. Odio ◽  
Helen Kusmiesz ◽  
Sharon Shelton ◽  
John D. Nelson

A total of 150 children with acute otitis media were randomly allocated to treatment with amoxicillin-potassium clavulanate (Augmentin) or with cefaclor. Each drug was given in a daily dosage of approximately 40 mg/kg in three divided doses for ten days. Tympanocentesis done before treatment yielded specimens that contained pneumococcus or Haemophilus sp or both in 67% of specimens. Viridans group streptococci were isolated from 10% of specimens and Branhamella catarrhalis from 6%. Patients were scheduled for followup examinations at midtreatment, end of therapy, and at 30, 60, and 90 days. Of the 150 children, 130 were evaluable. Five of 60 patients (8%) treated with cefaclor were considered therapeutic failures because of persistent purulent drainage and isolation of the original pathogen or suprainfection. There were no failures among patients treated with Augmentin (P = .019). Rates of relapse, recurrent acute otitis media with effusion, and persistent middle ear effusion were comparable in the two groups of patients. Diaper rash, or loose stools, or both were significantly more common in children treated with Augmentin (34%) than in those taking cefaclor (12%), but in no case was it necessary to discontinue medication because of these mild side effects (P = .002). Cefaclor therapy was discontinued in one patient because of severe abdominal pain and vomiting. In this study, treatment with Augmentin was superior to treatment with cefaclor in the acute phase of acute otitis media with effusion, but Augmentin produced more adverse effects. The rates of persistent middle ear effusion and recurrent acute otitis media with effusion were comparable with the two regimens.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-652
Author(s):  
Charles D. Bluestone ◽  
Jerome O. Klein ◽  
Jack L. Paradise ◽  
Heinz Eichenwald ◽  
Fred H. Bess ◽  
...  

GOALS, DEFINITIONS, AND CLASSIFICATION OF OTITIS MEDIA —Charles D. Bluestone, MD The goal of this Workshop was to assess current knowledge concerning the effects of otitis media on the child. Experts in pediatrics, infectious disease, otolaryngology, audiology, speech, linguistics, and psychology met in Chicago on Aug 25, 1982 to participate in this Workshop. A summary of the discussions is presented here. Otitis media is broadly defined as an inflammation of the middle ear without reference to etiology or pathogenesis.1 Otitis media with effusion is an inflammation of the middle ear in which a collection of liquid (i.e., middle ear effusion) is present in the middle ear space (no perforation of the tympanic membrane is present). Atelectasis of the tympanic membrane, which may or may not be associated with otitis media, is defined as either collapse or retraction of the tympanic membrane. Acute otitis media implies a rapid and short onset of signs and symptoms lasting approximately 3 weeks. From 3 weeks to 3 months, the process may be resolving or subacute. If middle ear effusion persists beyond 3 months, the condition is classified as chronic otitis media with effusion. Many terms have been used for acute otitis media, such as "suppurative," "purulent," or "bacterial" otitis media; however, a "serous" effusion may also have an acute onset. Otitis media with effusion unaccompanied by signs and symptoms of acute inflammation has also had a plethora of other names: "serous," "secretory," "nonsuppurative," and "glue ear" have been the most commonly used. EPIDEMIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF OTITIS MEDIA


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 739-742
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Schwartz ◽  
Richard H. Schwartz

Pneumootoscopy, tympanometry, and acoustic reflectometry were performed in 256 middleclass children seen in a surburban pediatric office. The results demonstrated that relectometry, when validated by otoscopic findings, detected middle ear effusion with 88% sensitivity and 83% specificity when a cut-off of 5 linear units was used. Corresponding values for tympanometry were 87% and 77.5%. These results are in keeping with those of earlier studies on acoustic reflectometry and demonstrate the usefulness of this simple technique in detecting chronic and acute otitis media with effusion.


1989 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 389-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izhak B. Varsano ◽  
Benjamin M. Volovitz ◽  
Josef E. Grossman

Prostaglandins are thought to be of importance in the pathophysiology of otitis media with effusion (OME), and the possibility of reducing the frequency and persistence of this condition by using prostaglandin inhibitors has been suggested. In a double blind manner, naproxen was administered to children with acute otitis media, in addition to amoxicillin, and its influence on the subsequent occurrence and persistence of middle ear effusion was evaluated. Eighty-one children participated in the study. No significant difference was found in the number of patients with tympanograms consistent with OME in the two groups. After 10 days of treatment, 63% in the naproxen and 58% in the placebo group, and after 30 days, 41% and 59%, respectively, had type B tympanograms. Similarly, there were no differences between the two groups with respect to other parameters studied (duration of otalgia, fever, otoscopic findings). No side effects related to naproxen were observed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-16
Author(s):  
Kim Outhoff

Children younger than 7 years are at increased risk of otitis media because of their immature immune systems and poorly functioning eustachian tubes that normally ventilate the middle ear space and equalize pressure with the external environment. More than 80% of children have at least one episode of acute otitis media (AOM) before the age of 3 years and 40% experience six or more recurrences by the time they are 7 years old.1 By the age of 3 years, approximately 7% of children undergo surgery for tympanostomy tube insertion for a range of otitis media issues, most commonly for chronic otitis media with effusion (OME), recurrent acute AOM, and acute otitis media that persists despite antibiotic therapy.2 However, tympanostomy tube insertion is associated with risks and remains a controversial practice especially in children with OME of less than three months’ duration and in children with recurrent AOM. Adverse effects associated with tympanostomy tube insertion include those associated with anaesthesia and its complications (laryngospasm, bronchospasm), as well as tube related sequelae such as recurrent (7%) or persistent (16–26%) otorrhoea, blockage of the tube lumen (7%), granulation tissue (4%), premature extrusion of the tube (4%), tympanostomy tube displacement into the middle ear (0.5%) and persistent perforation of the tympanic membrane (1%–6%).3 This article offers guidance for family practitioners wishing to optimize health outcomes in children potentially requiring tympanostomy tube placement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-61
Author(s):  
Ghassan Hassan Rahim

Background: Otitis media with effusion is characterized by accumulation of fluid in the middle ear in absence of acute inflammation and  it is the most common cause of  acquired hearing loss in children, and may  negatively affect language development failure of medical treatment of middle ear effusion frequently require myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion. Objectives: To determine tympanostomy tube complications of tube in children with chronic otitis media with effusion who were treated with Shah Grommet tube insertion. Methods: The Medical records of 162 ears of 87 children (52 male and 35 female) were reviewed respectively, the patients ages were between 3 to 16 years old (mean age =8.11 years), patient were followed for 6-66 months (mean 23.3) after tympanostomy tube insertion. Tube extrusion time was also reviewed in all patients, and the indication for surgery was chronic middle ear effusion. Results: Otorrhea accured in nine ears (5.6%), granulation tissue was seen in 2 ears (1.2%), myringosclerosis in (34.6%) persistent perfor-ation (5.6%), atrophy (23.5%) retraction (16.7%) and medial displacement 1.2% the average extrusion time was 8.5 month ( ± 4.6). Conclusions: complications of tympanostomy tube insertion are common and the most common are otorrhea myringosclerosis, atrophy but they are generally insignificant consequently in majority of these complications there is no need for management.


2020 ◽  
pp. 115-117
Author(s):  
K Outhoff

Children younger than 7 years are at increased risk of otitis media because of their immature immune systems and poorly functioning eustachian tubes that normally ventilate the middle ear space and equalise pressure with the external environment. More than 80% of children have at least one episode of acute otitis media (AOM) before the age of 3 years and 40% experience six or more recurrences by the time they are 7 years old. By the age of 3 years, approximately 7% of children undergo surgery for tympanostomy tube insertion for a range of otitis media issues, most commonly for chronic otitis media with effusion (OME), recurrent AOM, and acute otitis media that persists despite antibiotic therapy. However, tympanostomy tube insertion is associated with risks and remains a controversial practice especially in children with OME of less than three months’ duration and in children with recurrent AOM. Adverse effects associated with tympanostomy tube insertion include those associated with anaesthesia and its complications (laryngospasm, bronchospasm), as well as tube related sequelae such as recurrent (7%) or persistent (16–26%) otorrhoea, blockage of the tube lumen (7%), granulation tissue (4%), premature extrusion of the tube (4%), tympanostomy tube displacement into the middle ear (0.5%) and persistent perforation of the tympanic membrane (1–6%). This article offers guidance for family practitioners wishing to optimise health outcomes in children potentially requiring tympanostomy tube placement.


1984 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 53-54

Acute suppurative otitis media (AOM) is a common, painful condition affecting 20% of children under 4 years at least once a year,1 and perhaps more in infancy when clinical examination is most difficult. Infectious complications such as mastoiditis, meningitis and cerebral abscess are now rare, but chronic middle ear effusion and hearing loss remain common. Hearing loss may persist long after the infective episode,2 and may impair learning.


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