Postoperative results of ventilation tube insertion: a retrospective multicenter study for suggestion of grading system of otitis media with effusion.

Song, Chan Il; Kang, Byung Chul; Shin, Chol Ho; An, Yun Suk; Kim, Tae Su; Lim, Hyun Woo; Shim, Hyun Joon; Yoo, Myung Hoon; Ahn, Joong Ho

Background: In otitis media with effusion (OME), it is important to know when to surgically intervene and when careful monitoring is more appropriate. This study aimed to visualize and classify the clinical manifestations of OME and the correlation between the new grading system and postoperative results after ventilation tube insertion (VTI).Methods: We classified the collective 1,012 ears from 506 patients into six groups: grade 0 (no effusion), grade I (scant effusion, but abnormal), grade II (effusion less than half of the tympanic cavity), grade III (effusion over half of the tympanic cavity, with air bubbles), grade IV (complete effusion), and grade V (retracted tympanic membrane or hemotympanum without air bubbles).Results: The mean age at VTI was 5.2 (±2.9) years and mean duration between diagnosis and operation was 4.1 (±1.8) months. Between the grades, the nature of the middle ear effusion was also significantly different (p Conclusions: The new grading system of OME using endoscopic otoscope evaluation had a significant correlation with the age at VTI, the nature of middle ear effusion, the recurrence rate of OME, and the rate of revision VTI.

OTITIS media with effusion; MIDDLE ear; TYMPANIC membrane; SYMPTOMS; MIDDLE ear ventilation; GLEASON grading system; RESEARCH; RESEARCH methodology; RETROSPECTIVE studies; MEDICAL cooperation; EVALUATION research; DISEASE relapse; COMPARATIVE studies; POSTOPERATIVE period

BMC Pediatrics, 2021, Vol 21, Issue 1, p1

1471-2431

Academic Journal

10.1186/s12887-021-02855-1