Abstract
Objective
Measure the volume of air-containing space in children with cleft palate and assess age-related changes, recurrence rate of otitis media with effusion (OME) after tube removal, and temporal bone development trend based on time of tube placement.
Design
Interventional prospective study.
Setting
Cleft Lip and Palate Center at a Tertiary-level institution.
Patients/Participants
One hundred sixty-eight ears of 86 patients who visited our center from January 2018 to December 2019.
Interventions
We performed tympanometry (impedance audiometry) after tube placement.
Main Outcome Measures
Recurrence (at least one episode of OME after tympanic membrane closure), tympanic cavity volumes, and timing of tube placement.
Results
The mean air-containing cavity volume was 1.62 mL, 2.99 mL, and 3.29 mL in patients aged 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. A rapid increase in volume was observed around 2 years of age. Twenty-two (42.3%) of the 52 ears with pneumatic cavity volumes <3 mL, and four (14.3%) of the 28 ears with pneumatic cavity volumes ≥3 mL had recurrence. Tubes were placed at ages <1 year and ≥1 year in 28 and 62 ears, respectively. The pneumatic cavity volume tended to be greater in the ears with tube placement at age <1 year.
Conclusion
This study provided insights into using pneumatic cavity volume measurements to determine the appropriate timing for tube removal. Tubes should be placed as early as possible (before the age of 2 years) for prolonged OME associated with children with cleft palate.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.