Evaluation of factors affecting outcome of surgery for otitis media with effusion in clinical practice.

In discussing surgery for otitis media with effusion (OME), tympanostomy tubes and adenoidectomy are important. Sinus surgery is less important and cleft palate surgery needs to be mentioned for completeness sake. There is no evidence supporting the value of tonsillectomy in the treatment of OME. Tympanostomy tubes are possibly best regarded as artificial eustachian tubes, which remain in position for a variable amount of time. It is therefore apparent that resolution of OME from tympanostomy tube placement largely depends on whether underlying aetiological factors have either resolved or been corrected when the tympanostomy tube was in position.