EVALUATION OF ASYMPTOMATIC GLUE EARS IN CHILDREN SCHEDULED FOR ADENOTONSILLECTOMY.

Objective: The aim of this study to evaluate the evidence of Secretory otitis media in patients selected to undergo adenotonsillectomy for other indications. Patients and Methods: After approval from the institution?s ethical committee and informed parental written consent was obtained, 100 patients, 2?13 yr old, undergoing tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy, were enrolled in the study. Every child had complete ear, nose and throat examination with special emphasis to find evidences of Secretory otitis media by the same ENT specialist. Under general endotracheal anesthesia, all the children underwent adenotonsillectomy as well as myringotomies in both the ears to look for fluid or glue in the middle ear. Results: All patients were followed up at intervals of 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively to be evaluated for resolution of fluid in middle ear and hearing status. Preoperative evaluation of ear drums revealed; retracted drum in 48%, dull appearance in 12%, air bubbles behind TM 4%, and normal drum in 36% of cases. The results of myringotomy showed; bilateral negative pressure in 72% of cases, unilateral thin fluid in 3% of cases, bilateral thin fluid in 20% of cases and glue in 5% of cases. The incidence of asymptomatic Secretory otitis media in our study was 28%. Conclusion: Otitis media with effusion is asymptomatic and important condition in children. Myringotomy and grommet insertion is an effective treatment which results in drying up of fluid and return of normal hearing status in Secretory otitis media.