Ventilation tubes and cholesteatoma in children

Abstract

Summary The previous use of ventilation tubes has been investigated retrospectively in a series of children whose ears had been operated on. Within a six-year period, 49 ears had a cholesteatoma documented, and in 14 of these a tube had been used. During the same period, 64 ears were operated on for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma, and of these only three ears had been treated with a tube. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0.0004). A final conclusion is not possible from this information and more research is needed, but the study indicates the importance of a long-term follow-up of children who have been treated with ventilation tubes.