Cartilage tympanoplasty for management of tympanic membrane atelectasis: is ventilatory tube necessary?

Objectives: Cartilage/perichondrium composite graft with concomitant placement of a ventilation tube is a common practice among otologists to reverse atelectasis and to repneumatize the middle ear. We conducted this study to investigate the necessity of a ventilation tube primarily incorporated into the perichondrium/cartilage graft for reconstruction of the atelectatic tympanic membrane (TM).

Study Design: Prospective clinical trial.