Open AccessLong‐Term Otitis Media Outcomes in Infants With Early Tympanostomy Tubes
Author(s) -
Luu Kimberly,
Park James,
Shaffer Amber D.,
Chi David H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599820931414
Subject(s) - medicine , otitis , tympanostomy tube , pediatrics , audiogram , incidence (geometry) , cohort , retrospective cohort study , hearing loss , effusion , surgery , audiology , optics , physics
Objective To review the otologic outcomes of infants who failed the newborn hearing screen (NBHS) and received early tympanostomy tubes for otitis media with effusion (OME). Study Design Retrospective case series. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Subjects and Methods Consecutive patients (2007‐2018) who failed an NBHS and required tympanostomy tubes before 6 months of age were included. Variables including hearing loss and otitis media risk factors, episodes of acute otitis media (AOM), number of subsequent tympanostomy tubes, and posttympanostomy tube audiogram results were recorded. Results The cohort included 171 patients. Median age at referral to otolaryngology was 2.7 months. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was subsequently identified in 22 (12.9%) of infants after resolution of the effusion. The peak incidence of AOM was during the second year of life (1‐1.9 years), with a median of 1 episode. Ninety‐five patients (55.6%) had replacement of tubes, 41 of 171 (24.0%) had 2 or more additional sets of tubes, and long‐term tubes were eventually placed in 8 of 95 (8.4%) patients. Craniofacial anomalies were identified in 43.3% of patients. Tube replacement (hazard ratio, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.95‐4.63; P <. 01, log‐rank) and AOM (β, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.43‐1.65; P =. 04, ordered logistic regression) were more common, and SNHL less common (odds ratio, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.031‐0.61; P <. 01, logistic regression), in children with craniofacial anomalies. Conclusion OME is a common cause of failed NBHS. A notable proportion was subsequently found to have SNHL, reiterating the need for postoperative hearing assessments. Infants meeting indication for early tympanostomy tubes for resolution of OME have a high incidence of recurrent AOM and require subsequent tubes.