Background

Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) is defined as the presence of a middle ear fluid in the absence of symptoms of acute infection. The adenoid plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OME. Management of OME consisted of many choices, including auto inflation and medical treatment. Surgery was indicated in cases where the effusion does not resolve spontaneously or has failed medical treatment for 3 months.

Aim

The purpose of this study is to compare the outcome of secretory otitis media in patients with adenoids hypertrophy who underwent adenoidectomy alone, adenoidectomy and myringotomy, or adenoidectomy with tympanostomy tube (TT) application.

Patients and methods

This study included a total of 150 patients who suffered from persistent OME due to adenoid enlargement and were planned for adenoidectomy alone, with myringotomy or with TT insertion. The included patients were divided randomly into three groups.

Results

The results of the tympanogram after six months of healed myringotomy were significantly improved in group III compared to group I and group II. According to age class, 18 cases <4 years old, 23 cases between 4 and 8 years old, and 21 cases >8 years old were cured, and these differences were statistically significant. Regarding other factors, there were no statistically significant results.

Conclusion

Below the age of 4 years old, Clinicians may perform adenoidectomy as an adjunct to TT insertion for children with symptoms directly related to the adenoids, while above age of 4 years old, adenoidectomy and TT insertion has the best results.