Thermal myringotomy versus grommets in the management of secretory otitis media.

This paper presents the findings of a study of thermal myringotomy compared with the insertion of a grommet, in 30 children with secretory otitis media. The procedure was found to be easy to perform and free from complications. It provided ventilation of the middle ear for up to 8 weeks. However, there was a recurrence of the middle ear effusion in 40% of the thermal myringotomy ears. On the other hand, grommets were very effective in eliminating effusion over a 6 month period. I was unable to identify any parameter that will predict which patients will remain free of effusion after ventilation with a thermal myringotomy.