Evaluation of factors affecting outcome of surgery for otitis media with effusion in clinical practice

In discussing surgery for otitis media with effusion (OME), tympanostomy tu bes and adenoidectomy are important. Sinus surgery is less important and cl eft palate surgery needs to be mentioned for completeness sake. There is no evidence supporting the value of tonsillectomy in the treatment of OME. Ty mpanostomy tubes are possibly best regarded as artificial eustachian tubes, which remain in position for a variable amount of time. It is therefore ap parent that resolution of OME from tympanostomy tube placement largely depe nds on whether underlying aetiological factors have either resolved or been corrected when the tympanostomy tube was in position. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.