Is ventilation tube insertion necessary in children with otitis media with effusion?

To compare audiological outcomes of ventilation tube insertion(VTI) and myringotomy alone in association with adenoidectomy in patient with otitis media with effusion(OME).

Retrospective clinical chart review.

In total, 148 patients (78 male, 70 female; average age of 6,02 ± 1,98 years, range 4 to 7 years) who had been underwent adenoidectomy in association with VTI or myringotomy alone in our clinic were included in this study. Demographics and audiological outcomes were collected. The patients were divided randomly into two groups, group A (72) were subjected to adenoidectomy with VTI and group B (76) were subjected to adenoidectomy with myringotomy. Audiological outcomes comparing the both groups at six months also continued to patients follow up to one year after surgery. Results with a p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The mean pure tone hearing threshold preoperatively in group A was 28.68 ± 11.72 dB, while it was 24.25 ± 12.68 dB in group B. At postoperative six months, the means in group A were 8.4 ± 2,32 dB, while the means were 10,4 ± 3,36 dB in group B. Statistical analysis showed statistically significant difference between the means of pure tone hearing thresholds in both groups during the whole follow up period (p<0.05).

Our data suggest audiological outcomes of VTI was higher compared with myringotomy alone in association with adenoidectomy. However, further studies with a higher number of patients are needed to compare the audiological outcomes of various ventilation tubes types.