silicon and Otitis-Media-with-Effusion

The silicon-rubber T-tube was applied to 181 ears in 116 patients with chronic otitis media with effusion within last 5 years. Among the 181 ears, 81 (46%) accepted the T-tube without problems. In the remaining 97 ears, complications such as otorrhea, occlusion of the tube, extrusion of the tube, enlarged perforation and cholesteatoma occurred. However, in 161 ears (89%), the tube could be stabilized in the middle ear and functioned as ventilating tube beyond 3 months. Based on the incidence and prognosis of the ears with the complications and the results of hearing, we conclude that insertion of the T-tube is valuable and reliable method of treatment in the ears with retractions or atelectasis but in the ears with adhesion or granulation, this method of treatment has only limited value.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Hearing Loss; Humans; Infant; Middle Aged; Middle Ear Ventilation; Otitis Media with Effusion; Rubber; Silicon; Time Factors