Effectiveness of grommet insertion in resistant otitis media with effusion

Abstract EN

Aim : To determine the effectiveness of myringotomy and grommet insertion (MGI) in patients with otitis media and effusion (OME), who failed medical treatment.

Setting : Mahayel Private Hospital, Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia.

Design : Retrospective study.

Method : Records of eighty-six children (50 boys and 36 girls), aged 1-12 years, who had MGI for chronic OME between January 2005 and December 2010 were reviewed.

Patients’ data included : presenting complaints, indications for MGI, ear examination, hearing threshold and tympanometry.

Result: The age ranged from 1 to 12 years, 62 (72.1%) were less than 6 years old.

Hearing and academic performance improved after grommet insertion.

Conclusion : The study revealed that OME occurred mostly in preschool age.

Hearing loss was noticed in 64 (74.4 %), impaired social interaction in 37 (43 %), difficulty in learning in 15 (17.4 %) and delayed speech in 11 (12.8 %).

The leading presenting complaint is hearing loss.

MGI is indicated if medical treatment failed.

Hearing threshold improves significantly postoperatively.