Abstract
This report reviews ventilation tube (VT) therapy performed in 238 ears of 147 patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) at Fukuoka Children's Hospital between April, 1984 and July, 1986. Follow up for at least one year was made for post operative problems such as otorrhea, spontaneous extrusion, recurrence of OME after removal or extrusion of the VT, and long-term perforation of the tympanic membrane. Otorrhea was observed in 26 ears (10.3%), and spontaneous extrusions were found in 70 ears (29.4%). Recurrence of OME occurred in 21.8% of all the ears. The reccurrence rate was significantly lower in the ears which retained the VT more than 12 months. A perforation lasting for one year or more was not found in ears with spontaneous extrusion of the VT, but was observed in 8 of the 148 ears followed over 12 months after removal of the VT. From these data, we conclude that a VT designed to prevent spontaneous extrusion should be retained for more than one year, but because of the risk of long-term perforation, feel that VT therapy should be considered carefully.
