Abstract
Thirty ears of children with otitis media with effusion were treated with a combination of carbon dioxide Laser surgery for tubal tonsil hypertrophy and paracentesis to improve hearing loss.
The Eustachian tube function was examined by several methods: 1) inspection of ear drums, 2) audiometry, 3) tympanometry, 4) Tubo-tympanoaerodynometry, 5) endoscopy of the epipharynx.
Tubal tonsil hypertrophy was observed in 17 children (12 males and 5 females) with OME who were suffering from hearing disturbances in spite of previous adenoid-ectomy or tonsillo-adenoidectomy.
In all cases, Laser surgery was performed under general anesthesia, and in 19 ears paracentesis and suction of effusion were performed.
Postoperative hearing improvement was satisfactory. The average gain in hearing reached 9 to 14.3dB by 2 weeks after the operation. A follow-up study more than 6 months after the operation revealed that the improved hearing was maintained in 73.9% of the cases tested. No scar tissue formation which would interfere with the tubal function was observed one month after the operation.
