Middle ear ventilation in conjunction with adenotonsillectomy.

This report continues the evaluation of the use of a ventilation tube in the middle ear at the time of adenotonsillectomy. This series of 72 cases has been followed for 1 to 3 years. Each patient had bilaterally similar middle ear effusions. A myringotomy was performed in both ears. In one of the ears a ventilation tube was inserted, the other ear acting as a control. In 3 out of 4 of the patients in this study, adenotonsillectomy and evacuation of the middle ear fluid were sufficient to clear the middle ear indefinitely, and the use of the ventilation tube was redundant.