Multifrequency multicomponent tympanometry in children with a history of ventilation tube insertion.

OBJECTIVES

To use multifrequency multicomponent tympanometry (MF-MCT) for evaluating the middle ear mechano-acoustics of children with a history of ventilation tube (VT) insertion and to determine the effects of tube insertion sequelae on middle ear function.

METHODS

A prospective case-control study in a tertiary referral center involving 26 children (51 ears) aged 3-15 years. The children had undergone VT insertion surgery at least one-year previously and had no other known ear diseases. In addition, 13 age-matched healthy controls (26 ears) with no prior history of ear disease were included. The patients and control subjects underwent an otoscopic examination, standard 226 Hz tympanometry, and MF-MCT.

RESULTS

In 13.7% of cases, the VT was still in place in the operated ears. Post-operative myringosclerosis and/or eardrum retraction were noticed in 30% of ears with intact tympanic membranes in the patient group. While patients exhibited a great variability of tympanometric types (with standard 226 Hz tympanometry and tympanometric patterns with 1000 Hz MF-MCT), all cases in the control group had type A tympanograms and 3B1G patterns.

CONCLUSION

The effects of VT treatment on the mechano-acoustics of the middle ear have been revealed in this study. It has also been determined that VT application may increase the mass effect on the middle ear functions, which can be detected in the tympanometric shape and pattern.