Long term follow-up of secretory otitis media in children: the effects of adenotonsillectomy with insertion of a ventilation tube.
The long term effects of adenotonsillectomy and ventilation tube were studied in 78 children with serous otitis media. Duration of postoperative follow-up range from 2 to 8 years, with an average of 4.5 years. Repeated preoperative and postoperative pure tone audiometry as well as otoscopic examinations under a microscope were undertaken routinely for the assessment of the progress or improvement of the disorder. Three months after the operation, an average improvement of the hearing thresholds was 16.3 dB. However, it was 20.3 dB in the final examination. Under the otoscopic examinations, 35% of the ears were noted to have various kinds of pathological changes. Tympanic atelectasis of Grade I and II (Sadé) was noted in 17% of all the ears. Retraction pocket of the pars flaccida was found in 2%, permanent perforation in 4% and cholesteatoma in 2% of these ears.