Factors Influencing the Recurrenc of Serous Otitis Media after Tympanostomy Tube Insertion

Background & Objectives: Tympanostomy tube insertion is the treatment of choice for otitis media with eff-usion (OME) when the effusion persists more than 3 months or the patient has conductive hearing loss. The recurrence, however, after the extrusion of the tube is also common. The purpose of this study is to know which clinical factors contribute the recurrence of OME after the extrusion of tube. Materials & Methods: Sixty patients who received tympanostomy tube insertion for intractable otitis media with effusion. The patients were divided into two groups : 17 patients as recurred group and 43 as healed group. The clinical parameters are age, sex, size of tonsil and adenoid, TM findings, tympanogram type, season, chief complaints, character of discharge, and time of extrusion. Results: Recurrence of OME after extrusion of tympanostomy tube was more frequent in following conditions ; the younger age, lager adenoid size, retracted tympanic membrane, tympanogram type of B, in winter season, hearing disturbance as chief complaints, glue discharge, and more earlier extrusion. Among them, adenoid size, findings of tympanic membrane, tympanogram type, and time of extrusion showed statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: It is important to expect the recurrence of OME at the time of surgery. In case of retracted tympanic membrane, adenoid hyperplasia, it would be better to use long-term ventilation tube for prevension of recurrence of OME after extrusion of tube. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2006;17:61–65)