Prognostic value of eustachian tube function in pediatric tympanoplasty

Poor eustachian tube function and prevalence of infectious ear disease are thought to be the reasons for less successful outcome associated with tympanoplasty in children. Since both of these factors are related to age, identification of those patients who may benefit by delaying the surgery has been a concern to otolaryngologists. In an effort to investigate the role of eustachian tube function on the outcome, we tested the tubal function in 63 ears (56 children) undergoing tympanoplasty for central perforations. In 49 ears (78%), the graft took; of these, 33 had good middle-ear function, 8 developed persistent or recurrent otitis media, and 8 had severe retraction or atelectasis. There was a significant association (p less than 0.01) between outcome and preoperative tubal function as determined by combining the active and passive function parameters. However, the prognostic value of tubal function testing was low; predictive values for success and lack of success being 68% and 56%, respectively. Other factors, such as graft placement (medial or lateral) contralateral ear status, and child's age, were not associated with outcome. Consistent with other studies, good eustachian tube function was shown to predict good outcome, but poor tubal function was not helpful in predicting poor outcome.