Chronic secretory otitis media.

Of 242 children and teenagers treated surgically for chronic secretory otitis media in 1972, 212 presented for evaluation 5 years later. Although the pure-tone audiometric threshold was 20 dB HL or better in 87.7% of the ears, only 40.6% were judged to be otoscopically normal. The findings at the first myringotomy for insertion of tympanostomy tubes were of no prognostic value for the course of the disease, and the presence of characteristics of middle ear fluid at subsequent myringotomies varied unpredictably. Adenoidectomy performed at an early stage, and in the presence of nasal obstruction, resulted in a significant reduction in the need for re-insertion of tympanostomy tubes.