Abstract
Objectives
To discover whether tubes coated with antibiotic ointment can prevent the complication of post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea.
Methods
Retrospective chart analysis was done of the last 344 consecutive ears for tube surgery without ointment, and tube surgery with ointment, from Dec. 2006 to Oct. 2007. Only surgery using 7mm flouroplastic tubes were reviewed.
Results
A total of 128 ears had no ointment during the operation. Of the 128 ears, 12 ears developed otorrhea within 1 week, or an incidence of 9.4%. A total of 216 ears had antibiotic ointment coated onto the fluoroplastic tube during the operation and at time of tube insertion. Of the 216 ears, 7 ears developed post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea within 1 week, or an incidence of 3.2%. Our analysis using the chi-square test was statistically significant, with a p value of 0.02.
Conclusions
Post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea is a frequent complication of tympanostomy tube insertion, but by coating the tube with an antibiotic ointment at the time of surgery, we can decrease that incidence from 9.3% to 3.2%.