When should retained Paparella type I tympanostomy tubes be removed in asymptomatic children?

Objectives: Tympanostomy tubes are routinely used for the treatment of otitis media with effusion (OME). There is no definite consensus on the optimal length of the intubation period and the timing of tube removal. This study was designed to determine the appropriate time for tympanostomy tube removal in asymptomatic patients of preschool age.

The effect of early canalith repositioning on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo on recurrence.

Objectives: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can be treated using a simple repositioning maneuver. This study demonstrates the effects of early repositioning therapy in patients with BPPV, especially with regard to recurrence.

Methods: We enrolled 138 consecutive patients who had been diagnosed with BPPV in the emergency rooms and ENT out-patient clinics of Chung-Ang University Hospital and Samyook Medical Center from January to June 2009.

Hearing results after ossiculoplasty using Polycel prosthesis.

Conclusions: Polycel is an effective material to use in ossiculoplasty. Good prognostic factors for hearing improvement after ossiculoplasty were healthy middle ear mucosa and the presence of stapes superstructure.

Objective: During the last decade, the surgical use of alloplasts has become increasingly widespread among otologists.

Compositional difference in middle ear effusion: mucous versus serous.

Objectives: Serous otitis media is usually responsive to medical treatment, whereas mucoid otitis media is not. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the compositional difference between serous and mucoid effusion and to investigate whether MUC5AC acts as a major mucin in the middle ear mucosa with mucoid otitis media.

Study Design: This study involved a chemical analysis of middle ear effusion and immunostaining of the middle ear mucosa.