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Moffa A, Giorgi L, Fiore V, Baptista P, Cassano M, Casale M. Water protection in paediatric patients with ventilation tubes: Myth or reality? A systematic review. ACTA OTORRINOLARINGOLOGICA ESPANOLA 2022; 73:246-254. [PMID: 35908817 DOI: 10.1016/j.otoeng.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myringotomy with ventilation tube (VT) insertion is one the most performed procedures in children and adolescents worldwide. VTs usually remain in the eardrum between 6 and 12 months and during this period otorrhoea is the most frequent complication. For years, parents have been advised to protect the ears of children with VTs from contact with water, as water exposure in the middle ear is likely to cause acute otitis media. However, there is a growing evidence that water should not traverse VTs unless under significant pressure, so routine water precautions should not be prescribed. Despite these recommendations, many otolaryngologists and paediatricians continue to prescribe earplugs during bathing or swimming or advise against aquatic activities. There are already two reviews in the current literature on this topic: the first used strict selection criteria and included only 2 high-quality studies, while the second presented evidence up to 2005. The aim of this review is to identify, summarize and critically appraise the current evidence concerning water precautions for children with VTs. METHODS Two independent reviewers separately searched for related scientific papers. A qualitative synthesis analysis was performed considering the selected studies regarding the effects of water exposure on paediatric subjects with VTs. RESULTS Four randomized clinical trials (RCT) and five prospective cohort studies were included, for a total of 1299 patients aged from 3 months to 14 years. No statistically significant difference in otorrhoea incidence between water exposure with and without ear protection in children with VTs, and between water exposure and no water exposure in children with VTs, was found. Therefore avoiding water is at best inconvenient and at worst may delay learning to swim. The decision to protect the ear when exposed to water should be individualized and protection should be recommended during the first month after surgery and in cases of recurrent otorrhoea. CONCLUSION Based on the literature available, allowing water surface activities with no ear protection seems to present a minimum risk, so it is not necessary to prohibit patients from swimming. However, some recommendations should be followed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Moffa
- Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; Unit of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
| | - Lucrezia Giorgi
- Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; Unit of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Valeria Fiore
- Unit of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Peter Baptista
- Unit of Otolaryngology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Manuele Casale
- Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
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Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Bishop CE, Chelius DC, Hackell J, Hunter LL, Keppel KL, Kim AH, Kim TW, Levine JM, Maksimoski MT, Moore DJ, Preciado DA, Raol NP, Vaughan WK, Walker EA, Monjur TM. Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 166:S1-S55. [PMID: 35138954 DOI: 10.1177/01945998211065662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Insertion of tympanostomy tubes is the most common ambulatory surgery performed on children in the United States. Tympanostomy tubes are most often inserted because of persistent middle ear fluid, frequent ear infections, or ear infections that persist after antibiotic therapy. All these conditions are encompassed by the term otitis media (middle ear inflammation). This guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. The guideline is intended for any clinician involved in managing children aged 6 months to 12 years with tympanostomy tubes or children being considered for tympanostomy tubes in any care setting as an intervention for otitis media of any type. The target audience includes specialists, primary care clinicians, and allied health professionals. PURPOSE The purpose of this clinical practice guideline update is to reassess and update recommendations in the prior guideline from 2013 and to provide clinicians with trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations on patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. In planning the content of the updated guideline, the guideline update group (GUG) affirmed and included all the original key action statements (KASs), based on external review and GUG assessment of the original recommendations. The guideline update was supplemented with new research evidence and expanded profiles that addressed quality improvement and implementation issues. The group also discussed and prioritized the need for new recommendations based on gaps in the initial guideline or new evidence that would warrant and support KASs. The GUG further sought to bring greater coherence to the guideline recommendations by displaying relationships in a new flowchart to facilitate clinical decision making. Last, knowledge gaps were identified to guide future research. METHODS In developing this update, the methods outlined in the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's "Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual, Third Edition: A Quality-Driven Approach for Translating Evidence Into Action" were followed explicitly. The GUG was convened with representation from the disciplines of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, otology, pediatrics, audiology, anesthesiology, family medicine, advanced practice nursing, speech-language pathology, and consumer advocacy. ACTION STATEMENTS The GUG made strong recommendations for the following KASs: (14) clinicians should prescribe topical antibiotic ear drops only, without oral antibiotics, for children with uncomplicated acute tympanostomy tube otorrhea; (16) the surgeon or designee should examine the ears of a child within 3 months of tympanostomy tube insertion AND should educate families regarding the need for routine, periodic follow-up to examine the ears until the tubes extrude.The GUG made recommendations for the following KASs: (1) clinicians should not perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with a single episode of otitis media with effusion (OME) of less than 3 months' duration, from the date of onset (if known) or from the date of diagnosis (if onset is unknown); (2) clinicians should obtain a hearing evaluation if OME persists for 3 months or longer OR prior to surgery when a child becomes a candidate for tympanostomy tube insertion; (3) clinicians should offer bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion to children with bilateral OME for 3 months or longer AND documented hearing difficulties; (5) clinicians should reevaluate, at 3- to 6-month intervals, children with chronic OME who do not receive tympanostomy tubes, until the effusion is no longer present, significant hearing loss is detected, or structural abnormalities of the tympanic membrane or middle ear are suspected; (6) clinicians should not perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with recurrent acute otitis media who do not have middle ear effusion in either ear at the time of assessment for tube candidacy; (7) clinicians should offer bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion in children with recurrent acute otitis media who have unilateral or bilateral middle ear effusion at the time of assessment for tube candidacy; (8) clinicians should determine if a child with recurrent acute otitis media or with OME of any duration is at increased risk for speech, language, or learning problems from otitis media because of baseline sensory, physical, cognitive, or behavioral factors; (10) the clinician should not place long-term tubes as initial surgery for children who meet criteria for tube insertion unless there is a specific reason based on an anticipated need for prolonged middle ear ventilation beyond that of a short-term tube; (12) in the perioperative period, clinicians should educate caregivers of children with tympanostomy tubes regarding the expected duration of tube function, recommended follow-up schedule, and detection of complications; (13) clinicians should not routinely prescribe postoperative antibiotic ear drops after tympanostomy tube placement; (15) clinicians should not encourage routine, prophylactic water precautions (use of earplugs or headbands, avoidance of swimming or water sports) for children with tympanostomy tubes.The GUG offered the following KASs as options: (4) clinicians may perform tympanostomy tube insertion in children with unilateral or bilateral OME for 3 months or longer (chronic OME) AND symptoms that are likely attributable, all or in part, to OME that include, but are not limited to, balance (vestibular) problems, poor school performance, behavioral problems, ear discomfort, or reduced quality of life; (9) clinicians may perform tympanostomy tube insertion in at-risk children with unilateral or bilateral OME that is likely to persist as reflected by a type B (flat) tympanogram or a documented effusion for 3 months or longer; (11) clinicians may perform adenoidectomy as an adjunct to tympanostomy tube insertion for children with symptoms directly related to the adenoids (adenoid infection or nasal obstruction) OR in children aged 4 years or older to potentially reduce future incidence of recurrent otitis media or the need for repeat tube insertion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David E Tunkel
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Charles E Bishop
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Daniel C Chelius
- Baylor College of Medicine-Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jesse Hackell
- Pomona Pediatrics, Boston Children's Health Physicians, Pomona, New York, USA.,New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Lisa L Hunter
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Ana H Kim
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tae W Kim
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine/Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jack M Levine
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | | | - Denee J Moore
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | | | | | - William K Vaughan
- Consumers United for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Taskin M Monjur
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
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Moffa A, Giorgi L, Fiore V, Baptista P, Cassano M, Casale M. Water protection in paediatric patients with ventilation tubes: Myth or reality? A systematic review. ACTA OTORRINOLARINGOLOGICA ESPANOLA 2021; 73:S0001-6519(21)00093-5. [PMID: 34412895 DOI: 10.1016/j.otorri.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myringotomy with ventilation tube (VT) insertion is one the most performed procedures in children and adolescents worldwide. VTs usually remain in the eardrum between 6 and 12 months and during this period otorrhoea is the most frequent complication. For years, parents have been advised to protect the ears of children with VTs from contact with water, as water exposure in the middle ear is likely to cause acute otitis media. However, there is a growing evidence that water should not traverse VTs unless under significant pressure, so routine water precautions should not be prescribed. Despite these recommendations, many otolaryngologists and paediatricians continue to prescribe earplugs during bathing or swimming or advise against aquatic activities. There are already two reviews in the current literature on this topic: the first used strict selection criteria and included only 2 high-quality studies, while the second presented evidence up to 2005. The aim of this review is to identify, summarize and critically appraise the current evidence concerning water precautions for children with VTs. METHODS Two independent reviewers separately searched for related scientific papers. A qualitative synthesis analysis was performed considering the selected studies regarding the effects of water exposure on paediatric subjects with VTs. RESULTS Four randomized clinical trials (RCT) and five prospective cohort studies were included, for a total of 1299 patients aged from 3 months to 14 years. No statistically significant difference in otorrhoea incidence between water exposure with and without ear protection in children with VTs, and between water exposure and no water exposure in children with VTs, was found. Therefore avoiding water is at best inconvenient and at worst may delay learning to swim. The decision to protect the ear when exposed to water should be individualized and protection should be recommended during the first month after surgery and in cases of recurrent otorrhoea. CONCLUSION Based on the literature available, allowing water surface activities with no ear protection seems to present a minimum risk, so it is not necessary to prohibit patients from swimming. However, some recommendations should be followed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Moffa
- Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; Unit of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
| | - Lucrezia Giorgi
- Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; Unit of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Valeria Fiore
- Unit of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Peter Baptista
- Unit of Otolaryngology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Manuele Casale
- Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
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Steele DW, Adam GP, Di M, Halladay CW, Balk EM, Trikalinos TA. Prevention and Treatment of Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2017; 139:peds.2017-0667. [PMID: 28562289 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-0667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Children with tympanostomy tubes often develop ear discharge. OBJECTIVE Synthesize evidence about the need for water precautions (ear plugs or swimming avoidance) and effectiveness of topical versus oral antibiotic treatment of otorrhea in children with tympanostomy tubes. DATA SOURCES Searches in Medline, the Cochrane Central Trials Registry and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Excerpta Medica Database, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. STUDY SELECTION Abstracts and full-text articles independently screened by 2 investigators. DATA EXTRACTION 25 articles were included. RESULTS One randomized controlled trial (RCT) in children assigned to use ear plugs versus no precautions reported an odds ratio (OR) of 0.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.37-1.25) for >1 episode of otorrhea. Another RCT reported an OR of 0.71 (95% confidence interval, 0.29-1.76) for nonswimmers versus swimmers. Network meta-analyses suggest that, relative to oral antibiotics, topical antibiotic-glucocorticoid drops were more effective: OR 5.3 (95% credible interval, 1.2-27). The OR for antibiotic-only drops was 3.3 (95% credible interval, 0.74-16). Overall, the topical antibiotic-glucocorticoid and antibiotic-only preparations have the highest probabilities, 0.77 and 0.22 respectively, of being the most effective therapies. LIMITATIONS Sparse randomized evidence (2 RCTs) and high risk of bias for nonrandomized comparative studies evaluating water precautions. Otorrhea treatments include non-US Food and Drug Administration approved, off-label, and potentially ototoxic antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS No compelling evidence of a need for water precautions exists. Cure rates are higher for topical drops than oral antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale W Steele
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, and .,Departments of Health Services, Policy and Practice, School of Public Health.,Emergency Medicine, Section of Pediatrics-Hasbro Children's Hospital, and.,Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Gaelen P Adam
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, and
| | - Mengyang Di
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, and
| | | | - Ethan M Balk
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, and.,Departments of Health Services, Policy and Practice, School of Public Health
| | - Thomas A Trikalinos
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, and.,Departments of Health Services, Policy and Practice, School of Public Health
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