Role of Grommets in Otitis Media with Effusion

The outcome of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children is generally good. 54 children with symptomatic otitis media with effusion not responding to medical treatment of four weeks were treated with grommet insertion at Jinnah Hospital. On one year follow-up no major complication was noted. However five patients required retympanostomy due to recurrence of disease. Procedure was accompanied by adenoidectomy in 15 patients and tonsillectomy in 8 patients. Adenotonsillectomy was decided on individual basis. The mean duration of stay for ventilation tubes was ??? and they extruded spontaneously in all except one patient, who required removal under general anesthesia. One patient had persistent residual perforation which was treated by cigarette paper method.