Role of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in the management of children with middle ear effusion.

Evidence for the clinical effectiveness of adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in the management of children with persistent middle ear effusions is incomplete and what evidence there is the literature is not convincing. In the first year after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy there is less otitis media. The beneficial effects of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy on the incidence of otitis media declines in the second year after the operation. The prevailing opinion is that adenoidectomy is not indicated in the vast majority of children in whom a middle ear effusion has persisted for six weeks or more in spite of antibiotic therapy. Factors favoring an adenoidectomy would be persistent nasal obstruction, persistent purulent rhinorrhea and persistent adenoiditis. The role of tonsillectomy is even less clear, but the decision regarding tonsillectomy is made by most clinicians on the basis of the amount of intercurrent or chronic tonsillitis rather than on the basis of the middle ear effusion per se.