T-tubes: a retrospective review of 1274 insertions over a 4-year period.

1274 T-tubes were inserted for persistent otitis media with effusion in 661 patients over a 4-year period. The peak ages for insertion were between 4 and 7 years, and by 11 years the condition is uncommon. If a tube has not extruded spontaneously after 30 months it becomes increasingly less likely to do so. Complications were persistent perforations (32.6%), tympanosclerosis (23.6%), repeated otorrhoea or tympanic membrane granulations (21%), and impacted wax (10.9%). Forty-eight percent of patients experienced one or more complication in the study period, and the complication rate increased dramatically in patients whose tubes had remained in situ for longer than 36 months. After this time surgical removal is recommended.