Prognosis of otitis media with effusion in pediatric patients with cleft palate during language-acquisition period treated by simultaneous tympanostomy tube placement with palatoplasty. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iemura-Kashiwagi, Maho; Okano, Takayuki; Iwai, Noriko; Taniguchi, Mirei; Omori, Koichi
• Is Part Of: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. Volume 155(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Cleft palate -- Otitis media with effusion -- Tympanostomy tube insertion -- Palatoplasty; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Oto-rhino-laryngologie -- Périodiques; Pédiatrie -- Périodiques; 618.9209751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-5876

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Cleft palate (CP) in children is frequently complicated by otitis media with effusion (OME) due to Eustachian tube dysfunction. Although tympanostomy tube (TT) placement can be beneficial in the treatment of OME to prevent short-term hearing loss, there is no consensus regarding the indications for and timing of TT insertion. The present study was performed to define the safety and effectiveness of simultaneous TT placement with palatoplasty during the language-acquisition period. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of pediatric patients who underwent palatoplasty for CP in a tertiary medical center, Kyoto University Hospital, from June 2010 to October 2018. The TT retention time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The incidence of OME recurrence was compared among four Veau classification groups based on the patients' sex, type of CP, median TT retention time, and type of fluid. Results: Seventy-six subjects (150 ears) were enrolled in the study. The median follow-up duration was 48.7 months (range, 18.2–108.0 months) after the first TT placement. A first TT retention time of <20.1 months was a significant risk factor for OME recurrence. Subjects with maxillofacial anomaly complex and subjects with cleft lip and palate and an alveolar cleft showed a significantly higher OME recurrence rate than subjects with clefts only in the hard and/or soft palate. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of sequelae between subjects with only a single TT placement and subjects with more than one TT placement. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, it is reasonable to perform TT insertion at the same time as palatoplasty on patients who meet the indications. This technique may reduce the number of times the patient requires general anesthesia and maintain good middle ear condition during the period of language acquisition between 1 and 3 years of age. Highlights: Majority of patients with cleft palates and otitis media effusion had a good course with single tympanostomy tube insertion. Associated maxillofacial anomaly complex increased significantly the recurrence rate of otitis media with effusion. Repeated tympanostomy tube placement is not a risk factor for major sequelae such as perforation and adhesion or retraction. Simultaneous tympanostomy tube insertion with palatoplasty maintains a good ear condition in the language acquisition period.