Incidence of Complications Developed after the Insertion of Ventilation Tube in Children under ۶ years old in ۲۰۰۸-۲۰۰۹

Introduction: One of the main treatments of chronic otitis media with effusion is ventilation of the middle ear with a ventilation tube (VT). The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and the types of VT complications in children with otitis media with effusion in Ahwaz. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, the medical records of ۲۰۸ children (۵۲ male and ۳۵ female) in Imam Khomeini and Apadana hospitals were reviewed. The children were between ۱۰ months and ۶ years old. The patients were followed up ۱۲-۱۸ months after ventilation tube insertion. We reviewed age, sex, postoperative otorrhea, eardrum atrophy, tympanosclerosis and persistent perforation. In all these patients, the indication for surgery was chronic middle ear effusion. The data were analyzed and presented as numbers and percentages using SPSS۱۷.۰. Results: Transient otorrhea occurred in ۱۲.۵% and delayed otorrhea in ۸.۲%. Otorrhea non-responsive to medical treatment was seen in ۱.۹%. Complications after tympanostomy tube extrusion included atrophy (۲۷.۸%) myringosclerosis (۳۷.۹%), and persistent perforation (۲.۴%).The average extrusion time was ۱۰.۵ ±۵ months (ranging between ۳-۲۲ months). Conclusion: After extrusion of the ventilation tube, patients should be followed up regularly for recurrence of OME. Myringosclerosis, tympanic membrane atrophy and otorrhea are the most common complications of otitis media with effusion. However, they are generally insignificant. Consequently, in the majority of these complications, there is no need for any treatment.