Publication:

Assessment of hearing outcomes in pre-adolescent cases of otitis media with effusion treated with adenoidectomy

Background Otitis media with effusion is one of the most common presenting features in children coming to the otorhinolaryngology outpatient with a variety of medical and surgical treatment modalities being offered. This study aims to evaluate post-adenoidectomy hearing outcomes in cases of otitis media with effusion in an attempt to provide long term benefits.

Methods It is a prospective study of 50 pre-adolescent cases in a tertiary care hospital. Pure tone audiometry and tympanometry was performed pre-operatively as well as at regular follow up intervals after adenoidectomy (along with tonsillectomy when indicated). The mean improvement in hearing outcomes was evaluated.

Results The mean hearing improvement when compared to baseline pre-op air-bone gap values were 8.4±6.35, 8.6±6.39, 8.1±6.99 at 15th day, 1 month and 2 months post op respectively. There was also a significant shift of tympanometry curves from types B and C pre-op to types A and B 6 months post-op.

Conclusions Adenoidectomy, along with tonsillectomy when indicated, in children with hypertrophied adenoids as well as otitis media with effusion offers very good, long-standing hearing improvement and should always be considered in such patients so as to improve eustachian tube function and eradicate possible source of infection.