Related Experiment Videos
Three-year follow-up (1983-1986) of children undergoing bilateral grommet insertion in Sheffield
R G Wight1, A S Jones, J A Connell
1Sheffield Children's Hospital.
Insights
Younger children undergoing grommet insertion for otitis media with effusion require more procedures and follow-up visits. Persistent effusion remains common at three years post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common pediatric condition.
- Grommets (tympanostomy tubes) are a standard surgical treatment for persistent OME.
- Long-term outcomes and factors influencing re-intervention require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 3-year outcomes of grommet insertion for bilateral OME in children.
- To identify factors associated with repeat grommet insertions and persistent effusion.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 43 children aged 4-13 years treated with grommets for OME.
- Analysis of grommet insertion numbers, outpatient visits, and effusion status at 3 years.
Main Results:
- Younger age at initial grommet insertion correlated with increased likelihood of repeat insertions (P<0.05).
- Younger patients had more outpatient visits, correlating with the number of grommets inserted (P<0.01).
- At 3 years, 49% of children were in regular follow-up, and 34% had persistent effusion.
Conclusions:
- Early grommet insertion in younger children with OME may necessitate multiple procedures and increased healthcare utilization.
- A significant proportion of children experience persistent effusion despite grommet insertion.
- Swimming does not appear to negatively impact otorrhoea in children with grommets.
Abstract:
A retrospective study with review, after 3 years, of 43 children between the ages of 4 and 13 years, who had bilateral otitis media with effusion treated surgically purely by the insertion of grommets is described. The results shows that the younger the child at initial grommet insertion, the greater the likelihood of more than 1 grommet insertion being required (P less than 0.05). A younger patient is likely to make a greater number of outpatient visits (P less than 0.05), and the number of outpatient visits correlates with the number of grommets inserted (P less than 0.01). At 3 years, 49% of children remained on regular outpatient follow-up, while 34% of children had persisting effusion in 1 or more ears. Whilst grommets are in place, otorrhoea is not adversely influenced by swimming. The role of adenoidectomy in the management of otitis media with effusion is not assessed by this study.