LENS TUBE VS DONALDSON TUBE - RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY COMPARING A NEW WITH A CONVENTIONAL VENTILATION TUBE

A prospective study was undertaken in 72 children comparing a new type of tympanostomy tube, the Lens tube, in one ear, and a Donaldson tube in the contra-lateral ear as a control. The average survival times of the tubes differed significantly: 17.20 months for the Lens tube, and 11.31 months for the Donaldson tube (P < 0.001). By contrast, the rel apse rate (22% with the Lens tube vs 21% with the Donaldson tube) afte r extrusion or extraction, and the residual perforation rate (3% with the Lens tube vs 6% with the Donaldson tube) were not significantly di fferent. Otorrhea was not significantly different either: 25% with the Lens tube vs 16% with the Donaldson tube.