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Post-Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea and Other Complications

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Textbook of Otitis Media

Abstract

Tympanostomy tube insertion is one of the most performed pediatric surgeries in the United States. The procedure is considered a safe and effective treatment for otitis media with effusion. There are many different types of ventilation tubes available for clinical use—these are commonly classified as “short-term” or “long-term” tubes. Short-term tubes have a smaller lumen and medial flanges than the long-term tubes and extrude within 6–18 months, while long-term tubes may remain for years. Although tympanostomy tube insertion associates with low incidence of surgical and postoperative complications, these should be discussed with the patients and caregivers prior to surgery. The most frequent postoperative complication is otorrhea, which may affect over 50% of the patients. Other less frequent complications include chronic tympanic membrane perforation and cholesteatoma. In this chapter, these complications and their treatment are discussed.

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Correspondence to Rafael C. Monsanto .

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Pauna, H.F. et al. (2023). Post-Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea and Other Complications. In: Goycoolea, M.V., Selaimen da Costa, S., de Souza, C., Paparella, M.M. (eds) Textbook of Otitis Media. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40949-3_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40949-3_25

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