Premium
Is Aspiration Necessary Before Tympanostomy Tube Insertion?
Author(s) -
Egeli Erol,
Kiriş Muzaffer
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199803000-00024
Subject(s) - medicine , tympanostomy tube , myringotomy , suction , grommet , effusion , middle ear , surgery , mechanical engineering , structural engineering , engineering
Aspiration of middle ear fluid after myringotomy is performed routinely, although investigators imply a cause‐and‐effect relationship between suction noise and acoustic trauma. This prospective randomized study investigated if aspiration was necessary. Fifty‐one myringotomies and 50 tympanostomy tube insertions were performed on 27 patients. A suction instrument was utilized in 24 ears and was not used in 27 ears. In a follow‐up period, no difference was observed between the two groups. The authors did not establish that aspiration is indeed harmful, but tympanostomy tube insertion can be performed without suctioning middle ear effusion.