[Tympanostomy tube placement in children with secretory otitis media: analysis of effects and complications].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Tympanostomy tube emplacement is a common surgical procedure in paediatric otolaryngological surgery. This surgery has complications that sometimes depend on the disease and at other times on the treatment. The objective of this study is to know the results obtained with tympanostomy tube emplacement and its complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of all the children operated on for tympanostomy tube emplacement over a period of 18 months and with follow-up for at least seven years; this amounted to 143 ears operated on for the first time. The study variables were age, gender, initial appearance of the ear, inner ear contents, type of grommet inserted, duration of grommet and the lack of any hospital monitoring needed after extrusion.

RESULTS

One complication or another arose in 46% of the ears. The Donaldson type of grommet with a diameter of 1.27 mm is the one that produced most complications. There were more complications in ears that were worse in the otoscopic examination regardless of the grommet inserted.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of complications and after-effects after grommet emplacement needs long-term follow-up in patients. The results obtained suggest the use of grommets with a smaller internal diameter.