TUT                         Long-term tube

 

 

 Clogging                                    3%                                      >7%

                            

 

 Premature extrusion                  0.01%                                       low 

 

 

 Failure extrusion          can be removed anytime                       idem

 

 

  Needs general                            0.02%                                      4%

 anesthesia for removal

 

 

 Permanent perforation              9-10%                                        16.6%

 

 

 Painless removal                      100%                                      variable

 

 Follow-up results of 58 patients (112 tubes) for 32 months:

Insertion period:

Spontaneous extrusion: 20.5 months.

Removal at the end of treatment: 22 months.

Average of insertion period: 21.5 months.

The high percentage of intended removals indicates long-term insertion period - longer than is usually needed.

 

It is accepted that perforations are concomitant with long insertion periods. The permanent perforations occurred in children who did not show up for follow-up examinations for more than a year! Our recommendation is to stick to the worldwide recommendation for every type of tympanostomy tube to come for a follow-up visit every 4-6 months (3-4 times during the whole follow-up)! Our recommended term for the whole insertion period is 1.5 year (2 winters). However, the TUT can remain in the ear for a relatively very long period.

Recent publications recommend mid-term tubes for about 1.5 year. The advantages of the TUT are the excellent drainage, stability for very long insertion period but painless removal at any time. This enabels excellent case management and control. Keeping the tube for controlled limited period minimizes the perforation rate.