Preventive therapy for postoperative purulent otorrhea after ventilation tube insertion

Abstract

Objective: Treatment modalities which are intraoperative irrigation of the middle ear with isotonic saline, postoperative oral antibiotic treatment, and postoperative topical antibiotic use have been compared with each other and with control group regarding their efficiency in preventing postoperative purulent otorrhea after ventilation tube insertion. Moreover, the costs of the treatment modalities were analyzed. Study design: Each group consisted of 70 patients, and a total of 280 patients were followed up for purulent otorrhea 2 weeks after the surgery. The study was a single-blind randomized clinical trial. Results: Ten (14.28%) patients in the oral antibiotic group, 11 (15.71%) patients in the isotonic saline irrigation group, 6 (8.57%) patients in the topical antibiotic drops group, and 21 (30%) patients in the control group had postoperative purulent otorrhea. Statistical analysis determined a significant difference between each treatment modalities and control group but did not show any significant difference between the treatment groups. When the treatment options were compared according to their cost, however, the cost per successfully treated patient was significantly lower in the saline irrigation group. Conclusion: Intraoperative saline irrigation of the middle ear provides an effective, easy, and cheap treatment in preventing postoperative purulent otorrhea. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.