EVALUATING THE RESULTS OF TREATMENT FOR OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION BY VENTILATION TUBE INSERTION

Abstract

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disease especially in children. Objective: To study clinical, tympanometry, audiometry and the results of ventilation tube insertion. Materials and methods: Prospective study with clinical intervention in 114 ears of 76 patients with OME. Results: The most common age group was ≤ 6 years of age (39.5%). Common symptoms in ≤6 years of age group are nasal obstruction (73.3%), rhinorrhea (66.7%); in > 6 years of age group are tinnitus (78.3%), hearing loss (76.1%). Tympanic membrane findings: completed opaque (40.4%), air-fluid level (64.1%), retraction (44.7%), losing cone of light (87.7%). Tympanograme type B was 78.1%. Audiograme was conductive hearing loss with PTA > 20 db (100%). Ventilation tube insertion one or both side associated with or without adenoidectomy. After 6 months of follow-up, postoperative average PTA was 28.4±1.6 dB. Most of cases have dry ear, hearing improvement, tubes on the tympanic membrane. Common complications were otorrhea and extrusion. Conclusion: OME is asymptomatic especially in children. Tympanograme plays a key role in diagnosis. Ventilation tube insertion improves the hearing and restores the normal function of the middle ear.