Ar. Maw et al., DOES THE TYPE OF MIDDLE-EAR ASPIRATE HAVE ANY PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCEIN OTITIS-MEDIA WITH EFFUSION IN CHILDREN, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 18(5), 1993, pp. 396-399
Two hundred and twenty-two children with chronic, bilateral middle ear
effusions were assessed during a 2 year follow-up period. At initial
myringotomy the middle ear aspirate was found to be serous in 44 child
ren and mucoid in 178 children. Evaluation at 1 and 2 years post-opera
tively showed no difference in otoscopic fluid clearance or mean heari
ng threshold at either follow-up time in relation to either type of fl
uid. There was no greater need for ventilation tube reinsertion in eit
her group during the overall follow-up period. There was found to be n
o significant difference between the children with serous or mucoid ef
fusions in relation to a range of pre-operative and operative variable
s. The study suggests that outcome in terms of fluid clearance and hea
ring thresholds is independent of the fluid type and there appears no
greater need for revision ventilation tube insertion in relation to th
e findings at myringotomy. The type of effusion found on aspiration pr
ior to ventilation tube insertion has no prognostic value. Children wi
th serous fluid should be managed in an identical manner to those in w
hich the fluid is thicker and mucoid in character.