A randomized study of four different types of tympanostomy ventilation tubes - One-year follow-up.

Objective: To compare four different types of tympanostomy ventilation tubes (VT); long-shaft and short-shaft silicone tubes and long-shaft and short-shaft fluoroplastic tubes, regarding time to extrusion and events of otorrhea.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial in children with bilateral recurrent acute otitis media or secretory otitis media; four hundred children were randomized to receive one type of VT in the right ear and another type in the left ear. Postoperatively the children were assessed every third month by an otolaryngologist to monitor the incidence of otorrhea and tube extrusion.

Results: Out of the 400 children, 22 were excluded during surgery. Mean age was 35.3 months. A majority (63.8%) were boys. Forty-eight children were lost to follow up during the first year. Significantly more short-shaft VTs were extruded after 12 months compared to long-shaft VTs, regardless of material. Significantly higher incidence of otorrhea was found in the fluoroplastic VT ears compared to the silicone ones, regardless of length of tube.

Conclusion: Long-shaft VTs last longer in the eardrum during the first year of treatment. Silicone tubes render a reduced risk of otorrhea during the first year of treatment.