Long term complications of ventilation tube insertion in children with otitis media with effusion

  • Vladimir Živorad Djordjević School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade
  • Bojana Bukurov Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Nenad Arsović Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Snežana Ješić Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Jovica Milovanović Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Vladimir Nešić Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/5092
Keywords: otitis media with effusion, otologic surgical procedures, middle ear ventilation, treatment outcome, child,

Abstract


Background/Aim. Otitis media with effusion (OME) is characterized by the prolonged presence of fluid (longer than 12 weeks) of different viscosity in the middle ear, without perforation of the eardrum or signs of acute inflammation. The conservative treatment does not always provide satisfactory recovery, so surgical treatment may be unavoidable. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence, type and frequency of complications caused by ventilation tube insertion as a part of treatment for OME in children, and specifically, to evaluate the evolution of these changes over the extended period of time. Methods. During a 5-year period (1986–1991), 84 children with chronic bilateral OME, aged from 6 months to 12 years, were enrolled in the study and treated with ventilation tube insertion. All the patients were periodically checked every 6 months over a 3–8 year period following the intervention (otomicroscopic examination, audiometry, tympanometry), and reexamined in 2013 (22–27 years after the primary surgical intervention). Results. The complications observed in this study (51%) were atrophic scarring of the tympanic membrane, myringo- and tympanosclerosis, retraction of the eardrum, persistent perforations, granulation tissue formations, development of chronic otitis and sensorineural hearing loss. Conclusion. The incidence of complications after ventilation tube insertion was 51% in this study. Atrophic scars and myringosclerosis were the most prominent complications. Despite high complications rate ventilation tube insertion still remains the treatment of choice in children with otitis media with effusion.

Author Biography

Vladimir Živorad Djordjević, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade

Clinical departement

MD, PhD

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Published
2015/07/08
Issue
Vol. 72 No. 1 (2015)
Section
Original Paper