Does ENT outpatient review at 1-week post ventilation tube insertion improve outcome at 1 month in paediatric patients?

The aims of this study were to see if ENT review at 1 week following ventilation tube insertion in paediatric patients reduced the complication rate and the number of consultations with the general practitioner in the first postoperative month. Sixty-six children were prospectively randomized into two follow-up groups: group A was reviewed at 1 week and 1 month and group B at 1 month only. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative otorrhoea (P = 0.59), ventilation tube patency (P = 0.44), ventilation tube extrusion rate (P = 0.64) and number of consultations with the general practitioners (GP) for postoperative otorrhoea (P = 0.19) between the two groups at 1 month. In conclusion, there seems to be no advantage with early postventilation tube insertion review as it does not reduce complications or decrease the GP consultation rate.