LONG TERM EFFECT OF AUTOINFLATION IN THE TREATMENT OF OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION
1Kulak Burun Boğaz- Baş Boyun Cerrahisi Kliniği, Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, İstanbul, Türkiye2Çocuk Kliniğine Bağlı Aile Hekimliği, Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, İstanbul, Türkiye Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term effect of autoinflation on reducing the need for insertion of ventilation tube in chronic otitis media with effusion (COME).
Material and methods: Ninety three ears of 60 children diagnosed as COME were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (autoinflation); treated with autoinflation three times a day for 6 weeks (Otovent®) with nasal saline irrigation, and group 2 (control); treated with only nasal saline irrigation for 6 weeks. Before the COME diagnosis all the patients medicated with antibiotic (amoxicillin for 3 weeks), antihistamines (in case with allergy), and nasal saline irrigation. Both groups were followed for 9 months with respect to need for insertion of ventilation tube, free of effusion, and recurrence of effusion.
Results: During the 9 months follow-up, in autoinflation group; 20 out of 48 ears (42%) required the ventilation tube insertion, 22 ears (46 %) were free of effusion, and 6 ears (12%) were lost in follow-up and in control group; 30 out of 45 ears (67%) required the insertion of ventilation tube, 8 ears (17.7 %) were free of effusion, 5 ears (11%) were lost in follow-up, and 2 ears of 1 patient who regretted the insertion of ventilation tube had still COME.
Conclusion: Autoinflation reduce the need for insertion of ventilation tube not only in short term but also in long term as well. The children should be followed as long as they are at risk of recurrence.
Keywords : Autoinflation, Eustachian tube dysfunction, Otovent®, grommets, otitis media with effusion