CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF OTITIS-MEDIA WITH EFFUSION BY AUTOINFLATIONOF THE MIDDLE-EAR

A total of 85 children on the waiting list for grommet insertion aged between 3 and 10 years with bilateral chronic otitis media with effusi on (OME) were assigned at random to an observation or treatment group. Those in the treatment group were given the Otovent(R)device to use t hree times a day for the duration of the study and both groups were th en seen at monthly intervals for 3 months for pneumatic otoscopy and t ympanometry. Statistically significant improvement was seen in those u sing the treatment with a compliance of more than 70%. This was detect ed on the outcome measures of tympanometry and pneumatic otoscopy afte r 1, 2 and 3 months. No side effects were demonstrated. We conclude th at autoinflation is an effective short-term treatment for children wit h OME when used regularly under supervision.