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[Cleft palate and dysfunction of the eustachian tube]
A Frisina1, F Piazza, E Pasanisi
1Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica e Microchirurgia Otologica e Otoneurologica, Università di Parma.
Acta Bio-Medica De L'Ateneo Parmense : Organo Della Societa Di Medicina E Scienze Naturali Di Parma
|March 7, 2000
Summary
Secretory otitis media (SOM) is common in infants with cleft palate. Medical treatment alone is ineffective, necessitating tympanostomy tubes during cleft palate surgery for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Genetics
Context:
- Infants with cleft palate frequently develop secretory otitis media (SOM).
- Abnormal Eustachian tube function in cleft palate leads to poor middle ear aeration.
- SOM affects 95% of infants with cleft palate due to these anatomical issues.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of medical therapy for SOM in infants with cleft palate.
- To determine the long-term outcomes of SOM in post-operative cleft palate patients.
- To propose an improved therapeutic protocol for SOM in this population.
Summary:
- This study examined 14 infants operated on for cleft palate within their first year of life.
- All patients received medical therapy for SOM without tympanostomy tubes; SOM persisted in all cases.
- Medical therapy demonstrated poor efficacy in resolving SOM post-operatively.
Impact:
- Current medical management of SOM in cleft palate infants is insufficient.
- The findings support the early insertion of tympanostomy tubes during cleft palate repair.
- This approach aims to improve middle ear aeration and reduce SOM complications.