Mean Time of Insertion of a Pressure Equalizing Tube (PET)

Overview

In recent years in the treatment of certain types of otitis media so-called tympanostomyhas become an accepted method. In our departments a privileged position is held by theinsertion of „pressure equalizing tubes“ (PET). The term explains best their main function.This term is based on the finding that PET after insertion into the ear drum ensures and replacesin particular the ventilation (equalizing pressure) function of the Eustachian tube. After surgerythe PET are left, if functional, for a period of one years, if they are not patent they are removedsooner. In the majority of patients the tube is however rejected spontaneously into the auditorymeatus. Insertion of the tube may lead to the development of structural changes of the ear drum. Asa complication also persisting perforations after PET are described or discharge. All mentionedcomplications were only sporadic in our groups.In the present work we wanted to evaluate the period of insertion of PET in months in patients withthe diagnoses otitismedia chronica secretocica (OMS) and otitismedia acuta recidivans (OMR). 349patients were evaluated operated in the Faculty Hospital Brno, who had in 1998 and 1999 PETintroduced either on account of chronic secretory otitis or relapsing otitis media. The mean age ofthe children when the tube was inserted was 7.1 years. The largest number of PET was inserted inchildren aged 7 - 10 years with the diagnosis OMS. Contrary to OMS relapsing acute otitis was thereason for inserting a PET in particular in the youngest age groups under six years. In some patientsseveral months after insertion of PET it was rejected, in the remainder the tube was removedsurgically under short general anaesthesia. Another group of patients was formed by children withthe diagnosis OMStreated at the ENT department of the Frýdek-Místek hospital. In this departmentthey inserted to 90 patients a total of 138 titanium EPT. The shortest period for which the tube wasleft in the ear were two months, the longest 22 months (in two patients in the age group from 11 - 16years with the diagnosis OMS. The mean period with the tube was 8.5 months. If we compare themean period with the results of other authors we reach the conclusion that our patients had thetubes for a shorter period, on average shorter by 0.5 to 3.5 months.

Key words:
pressure equalizing tube, otitis media secretorica, otitis media recidivans.