Surgery for Otitis Media with Effusion: A Survey of Otolaryngologists Who Treat Children in Brazil

Abstract Introduction Myringotomy and ear tube placement (MTP) is the surgical treatment for otitis media with effusion (OME), and it is the most common surgery performed in children. Several guidelines have been developed to assist in the care of patients who become candidates for MTP. Objectives To evaluate the practice of Brazilian otorhinolarynogologists when performing MTP according to the years of clinical experience. Secondarily, we also want to assess if their practice regarding MTP varied according to the percentage of children treated and the location of their practice. Methods A 30-question survey was sent to otolaryngologists affiliated with the Brazilian Academy of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (Academia Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia Pediátrica, ABOPe, in Portuguese) and/or the Scientific Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria, SBP, in Portuguese). The questions included were carefully chosen to provide a profile about the practices adopted in the pre-, peri- and postoperative periods of MTP. Results The questionnaire was sent to 208 otolaryngologists, and there were 124 (59.6%) respondents. Of those, 59.7% use antiseptics before surgery. Only 54 otolaryngologists, less than half of the subjects in this study (43.5%), always place a tube during the procedure. More physicians who practice in small cities recommend water precautions after MTP when compared to other physicians (p < 0.001). Conclusions The present study reveals that many respondents do not follow some of the recommendations of the current guidelines of the American Academy of

The Relation between Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea and Types of Immune Cells in Middle Ear Effusion in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tympanostomy tube insertion is one of the most common surgical procedures in children. Despite aseptic procedures with prophylactic antibiotic treatment, postoperative otorrhea may be encountered in some patients. The purpose of this study is to identify the relation between the types of immune cells in otitis media with effusion (OME) and tympanostomy tube otorrhea (TTO) in children. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifty-six patients underwent tympanostomy tube insertion with OME were analyzed retrospectively. Fluid from OME was harvested by suction via syringe connector after myringotomy. Light microscopic examination of middle ear effusion was performed by a pathologist after hematoxylin and eosin staining. We analyzed the relation between the types of immune cells from middle ear effusion and TTO. RESULTS: Of 56 children, 36 were male and 22 were female. The mean age for tympanostomy tube insertion was 3.56 (±2.63) years, with the average follow-up period of 12.56 (±9.96) months. Neutrophils were detected in 19, eosinophils in 14, lymphocytes in 22, mast cells in 2, plasma cells in 7, and histiocytes in 9. TTO occurred in 15 patients. In patients with early TTO, eosinophils were detected more frequently than in patients without TTO (p=0.006). Plasma cells were detected more frequently in patient with late TTO than without TTO (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: According to the analysis of different types of immune cells, eosinophils in the middle ear effusion related with the occurrence of TTO.

Effect of tympanostomy tube insertion or tympanocentesis on transnasal endoscopic adenoidectomy in the treatment of pediatric patients with secretory otitis media / 重庆医学

Objective To discuss the tympanic membrane puncture or tympanostomy tube under endotoscope combined with adenoidectomy under nasal endoscopy on the influence of invalid conservative treatment of pediatric secretory otitis media.Methods A total of 112 cases of secretory otitis media with invalid conservative treatment were selected in the department of otorhinolaryngology of children′s hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2013 to August 2015.They were divided into three groups,the group A of 38 cases(68 ears)underwent transnasal endoscopic pure adenoidectomy;the group B of 37 cases(60 ears)underwent transnasal endoscopic adenoidectomy combined with tympanocentesis;the group C of 37 cases(59 ears)underwent tympanostomy tube insertion.The clinical treatment effect,the period of middle ear effusion,postoperative recurrence and complication were observed and compared.Results The total effective rate of the 3 groups was improved after 3 months(P<0.05);the total effective rate in group B and group C at one week and 3 months after operation were higher than those of group A(P<0.05);and the total effective rate in group C at 3 months after operation was significantly higher than that of group B(P<0.05).The level of auditory brainstem evoked potential(ABR)and the latency of ABR wave Ⅰ latency were decreased at 1 year after operation(P<0.05);the ABR changes in group B and group C at 1 week and 1 year after operation were lower than those in group A(P<0.05).The incidence of recurrence rate and the period of middle ear effusion in group C were lower than those in group A and B(P<0.05).The incidence of complication of group A was lower than those of group B and group C(P<0.05).Conclusion Using tympanostomy tube combined with adenoidectomy under endoscope can improve the children with hearing,which not only can shorten the time of the middle ear effusion,but also effectively reduce the recurrence rate.

How do You Select an Anesthesia Method Prior to Tympanostomy Tube Insertion for a Child?

The use of general (face-mask inhalation and intravenous) anesthesia has been the method of choice for tympanostomy tube insertion in children. However, there is no exact guideline for the choice of anesthesia method and there is no evidence to support the use of one anesthesia method over another. Clinically, the anesthesia method used to be decided by old customs and the surgeon's blind faith that children cannot bear tympanostomy tube insertion under local anesthesia. Clinicians should keep in mind that pediatric anesthesia has a potential risk. Despite infrequent serious complications, their seriousness necessitates that sedation or general anesthesia should be done by an anesthesiologist and thus children requiring tympanostomy tube insertion should be referred to secondary or tertiary hospitals, even if they have been followed by a primary care physician for a long time. Previous evidence showed that local anesthesia is appropriate for tympanostomy tube insertion in selected children, especially in children older than 5 years are older. Proper choice of anesthesia method is helpful for both patient and medical service provider. Local anesthesia can give psychological relief to children and their parent. It is easier for the medical service providers to schedule the operation and allocate the medical resources in their hospital. Local anesthesia can reduce individual, social, and national burdens for the health care services.

Tympanostomy tube under the ear endoscopy combined with adenoidectomy in children with ssecretory otitis media / 中国医学装备

Objective:To evaluate efficacy of tympanic membrane PE tube placement combined with oral endoscopic adenoidectomy in treating otitis media with effusion(OME) in children. Methods:Selected 87 cases(102ears)patients of secretory otitis media as research subjects between January 2012 to August 2014, in department of Otolaryngology in Heilongjiang Province, randomly divided into observation group(45cases, 55ears) and control group(42cases, 47ears),observation group used tympanostomy tube siphon drainage method combined with adenoidectomy for treatment, control group alone tympanostomy tube siphon drainage therapy, postoperative complications recorded data of patients later from the hospital after six and twelve months. Results:Two groups of patients after six months treatment and after twelve months(x2=5.705, x2=7.460;P<0.05), the results were statistically significant(P<0.05);in the middle ear effusion time, recurrent ear number, the number of ear infections, the results were also statistically significant(t=7.662, x2=4.197, x2=4.752;P<0.05). Conclusion:Under the ear drum using endoscopic drainage siphon tube method combined with adenoidectomy can effectively reduce postoperative complications in patients with quick, injury, etc, with high short-term and long-term efficacy, worthy application.

Age as a Determinant to Select an Anesthesia Method for Tympanostomy Tube Insertion in a Pediatric Population

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between age and anesthesia method used for tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI) and to provide evidence to guide the selection of an appropriate anesthesia method in children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of children under 15 years of age who underwent tympanostomy tube insertion (n=159) or myringotomy alone (n=175) under local or general anesthesia by a single surgeon at a university-based, secondary care referral hospital. Epidermiologic data between local and general anesthesia groups as well as between TTI and myringotomy were analyzed. Medical costs were compared between local and general anesthesia groups. RESULTS: Children who received local anesthesia were significantly older than those who received general anesthesia. Unilateral tympanostomy tube insertion was performed more frequently under local anesthesia than bilateral. Logistic regression modeling showed that local anesthesia was more frequently applied in older children (odds ratio=1.041) and for unilateral tympanostomy tube insertion (odds ratio=8.990). The cut-off value of age for local anesthesia was roughly 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In a pediatric population at a single medical center, age and whether unilateral or bilateral procedures were required were important factors in selecting an anesthesia method for tympanostomy tube insertion. Our findings suggest that local anesthesia can be preferentially considered for children 5 years of age or older, especially in those with unilateral otitis media with effusion.

Eosinophilic Otitis Media 3 Cases Discovered with Recurrent and Sticky Otorrhea after Ventilation Tube Insertion / 대한이비인후과학회지

We studied three patients in whom otorrhea occurred without bacterial infection following ventilation tube (VT) insertion. These patients took oral steroids since the conventional therapy was not effective; however, the oral steroids produced temporal effect since sticky otorrhea occurred when the oral steroids were stopped. We collected ear discharge from each patient and consulted the pathologist about histopathologic findings of it. We identified the predominant eosinophilic infiltration at specimen. We tried to relate this type of otitis media with eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) and treated the patients with intratympanic steroid injection.

Factors Affecting the Extrusion Rate of Ventilation Tubes

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the various factors that affect the extrusion rate of ventilation tubes (VTs), including the nature of the middle ear effusion. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 82 pediatric patients (177 ears) who received VT insertion surgery under general anesthesia was carried out to evaluate the relationship between various factors and the VT extrusion rate. The factors we analyzed included age, gender, the adenoid size, the amount and content of the middle ear effusion after myringotomy, bleeding events, associated adenoidectomy and the findings of the tympanic membrane status, the tympanometry and the audiometry of the air bone gap. RESULTS: The mean extrusion time was 254 days (range, 11 to 809 days). The patients with no history of previous VT insertion had a longer extrusion time (mean, 279 days) than did the patients who had undergone previous VT insertion (mean, 203 days). The patients with serous effusion had the shortest extrusion time (mean, 190 days) as compared to those patients with glue (273 days) and pus (295 days) effusions. Other factors had no statistical significant relationship with the extrusion time. CONCLUSION: The mean VT extrusion time was 254 days. The VT extrusion time was significantly related to the characteristics of the middle ear effusion and a history of previous VT insertion. Thus, the nature of middle ear effusion can provide a clinical clue to predict the VT extrusion time.

L'otite seromuqueuse de l'enfant

L'OSM est la cause la plus frequente de surdite acquise de l'enfance. Environ 90des enfants presentent au moins un episode d'OSM avant l'age de 6 ans avec une frequence maximale a l'age de 2 ans. Le developpement de l'OSM peut etre explique par la defaillance d'autres barrieres protectrices (systeme mucociliaire; systeme immunitaire; trompe auditive) qui n'assurent plus de resistance aux bacteries. Le meilleur moyen diagnostic actuel de l'OSM est l'otoscopie pneumatique qui a une sensibilite de 94et une specificite de 80. La tympanometrie sert surtout a documenter l'OSM et a suivre l'evolution. Le traitement de l'OSM ne peut etre envisage que si un benefice persistant et cliniquement significatif est assure par rapport a l'evolution spontanee. Aucun traitement medical n'a fait la preuve de son efficacite. Le traitement deconges- tionnant nasal et les antihistaminiques n'ont montre aucune superiorite par rapport au placebo. Ailleurs; l'indication chirurgicale (ATT) depend de la perte auditive; des symptomes associes; des facteurs de risque au developpement; et de la prevision anticipee du temps de resolution de l'epanchement. Malgre son diagnostic relativement aise; la strategie therapeutique etant controversee. Le traitement n'est justifie que lorsque l'OSM est chronique. L'ATT demeure l'unique traitement efficace. La prevention des causes de l'inflammation est primordiale mais s'avere difficile. Nous nous proposons de resumer les avancees actuelles en epidemiologie; pathogenie; diagnostic et dans la prise en charge de l'OSM

Self-retaining harpoon tympanostonomy tube with applicator

Objective: To describe a novel harpoon design for a low cost, self retaining tympanostomy tube with applicator used in a 38-year-old female for otitis media with effusion. Methods: a. Study design: Instrumental Innovation/Case Report b. Setting: Tertiary Hospital in Metro Manila Results: The tympanostomy tube was inserted under endoscopic guidance within 10 seconds, remained in place for two months with relief of symptoms, and spontaneously extruded by the seventh month of follow-up. Conclusion: The harpoon-designed tube with applicator provided ease of insertion and good anchorage in the tympanic membrane. Maximizing the use of a stylet-needle as both perforator and applicator simplified the tympanostomy and ventilating tube insertion procedures into a single maneuver. (Author)

Grommet Cholesteatoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

There are occasional complications after tympanostomy tube insertion due either to the operative procedure itself or to the anato-mical or physiological effects of the tubes. Hearing loss, persisting perforation, tympanosclerosis, atrophy, atelectasis, and the development of cholesteatoma have all been attributed to the tympanostomy tubes. The development of a secondary cholesteatoma at the site of the tube placement Grommet cholesteatoma- is a very uncommon complication. We report one case of cholesteatoma associated with tympanostomy tube insertion.

Efficacy of Adenoidectomy in Preventing Recurrence of Otitis Media with Effusion / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies of the efficacy of adenoidectomy in otitis media with effusion have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of adenoidectomy and influences of other associated risk factors on the recurrence of otitis media with effusion (OME). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 441 ears of 266 patients who underwent tympanostomy tube (T-tube) insertions from January 1990 to December 2000. Patients were grouped according to the surgical procedures they underwent; T-tube insertion only, T-tube insertion and adenoidectomy and T-tube insertion and adenotonsillectomy. In addition to the type of surgical procedure, the time elapsed to the extrusion of T-tube, age, paranasal sinusitis, the nature of effusion, and adenoid size were chosen as factors affecting the recurrence of otitis media with effusion. The recurrence of OME, the reinsertion of T-tube, and the number of T-tube insertions during each patients' follow-up period were defined as the dependent variables. Statistical analyses were performed by multiple logistic regression and cumulative multiple logistic regression methods. RESULTS: A significant benefit was observed with adenoidectomy in preventing recurrence of OME (p<0.001), which was not enhanced by tonsillectomy. The effect of adenoidectomy was independent of adenoid size. Earlier extrusion of tympanostomy tubes was strongly correlated with the recurrence of otitis media with effusion (p<0.0001). OME tended to recur if the patients had younger age. CONCLUSION: Performing adenoidectomy at the time of the insertion of tympanostomy tube substantially reduces the recurrence of otitis media with effusion and the likelihood of reinsertion of T-tube.

Audiometric Changes after Ventilating Tube Insertion in Middle Ear Effusion / 대한이비인후과학회지

Audiometric and clinical findings of 90 patients(146 ears) who were suffered from otitis media with effusion and were treated by tympanostomy tube placement at KangNam General Hospital from Apr. 1994 to Jun. 1996 were analyzed. The results were follows; 1) Sex distribution shows 52 males and 38 females. Age distribution is 4 to 81, and fifty-one percent of them are younger than 9-year-old. 2) Pre-operative pure tone average was 27.1dB in air conduction and 20.6dB in air-bone gap. Post-operative pure tone average of air conduction and air-bone gap was average 12.6dB and 7.5dB at 13th day and 9.3dB and 5.6dB at 44th day after v-tube insertion, respectively. 3) For patients younger than 9-year-old, pre-operative average air conduction threshold was lower and air-bone gap was smaller than that of older age groups. But there are no significant difference of post-operative changes between younger than age of 9 and age between 10-19. 4) There are no significant differences among the groups with different nature of effusion in pre-operative hearing threshold. However the hearing threshold changes in air conduction and air-bone gap were larger in mucoid group than serous one. 5) There are no differences in the pre-operative hearing among the groups with different amount of effusion, but changes of post-operative hearing threshold was bigger in large amount group. 6) The incidence of post-operative otorrhea was 15%(22 ears) and its incidence was higher in mucoid group than serous one.