BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic ventilation tube insertion procedure among pediatric populations.

MATERIAL and METHODS

This was an intervention study with a ventilation tube inserted in patients between May 2016 and August 2018. All patients aged <18 years were included except those with syndromic diseases and chronic suppurative otitis media. Ventilation tube insertion was performed with endoscopic and microscopic techniques.

RESULTS

A total of 790 ventilation tube insertions were performed in 395 patients. Of the 395 patients, 200 were treated with microscopic interventions, and 195 had endoscopic surgery. The mean operation times were 5.31±2.11 min for endoscopic intervention and 9.05±3.53 min for microscopic intervention. The complication rate was 12 (6.15%) out of 195 patients at the endoscopic group (8 of them had a perforation of the tympanic membrane and 4 of them displayed granulation tissue). In the microscopic groups, 15 (7.5%) complications were seen from 200 patients (all 15 patients had tympanic membrane perforation).

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic ear ventilation tube insertion procedure reduces operation times. In addition, the complication rate of this technique appears to not significantly differ from the microscopic technique.

Keywords: Endoscopic, microscopic, ventilation tube insertion