Preventive therapy for postoperative purulent otorrhea after ventilation tube insertion

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Postoperative purulent otorrhea is a common complication following ventilation tube insertion.
• Various treatment modalities aim to prevent this complication, including antibiotics and irrigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of intraoperative isotonic saline irrigation, postoperative oral antibiotics, and postoperative topical antibiotics in preventing purulent otorrhea after ventilation tube insertion.
• To evaluate these interventions against a control group.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized clinical trial involving 280 patients undergoing ventilation tube insertion.
• Patients were divided into four groups: isotonic saline irrigation, oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics, and a control group.
• Follow-up for purulent otorrhea occurred two weeks post-surgery.

Main Results:

• All treatment modalities showed a significant reduction in postoperative purulent otorrhea compared to the control group.
• No significant difference in efficacy was found between saline irrigation, oral antibiotics, and topical antibiotics.
• Intraoperative saline irrigation demonstrated a significantly lower cost per successfully treated patient.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative middle ear irrigation with isotonic saline is an effective, easy, and inexpensive method for preventing postoperative purulent otorrhea.
• Saline irrigation presents a cost-effective alternative to antibiotic treatments for this indication.