Tympanostomy tubes for prevention of XXXX media.

@entity35 @entity2266 @entity2172 @entity1143
A recently developed animal model was used to study the effect of tympanostomy tubes (TTs) on the spontaneous development of @entity2266 media. In 35 @entity35 with soft-palate clefts a TT was inserted into the right tympanic membrane. The left ear was left intact. @entity1143 occurred in the attic space within 2 days after surgery, whether or not the @entity2172 ( @entity2172 ) was artificially ventilated. Between days 7 and 21 the intact-ear @entity2172 was gradually filled with effusion material that turned purulent. Effusion material did not develop in the mesotympanum and hypotympanum of the intubated ears. Microbiologic examination of the effusion material showed a microflora similar to that in the nasopharynx. Ventilation through a TT reduced the number of colonized MECs (4 vs. 10) on day 21. In the individual culture-positive @entity2172 with a TT there were fewer colonies than in the corresponding ear without a TT. These results support the contention that a TT may prevent the development of @entity2266 media.
