 |
|
Tympanostomy Tubes and Water Exposure
A Practical Model
Richard L. Hebert II, MD;
Geoffrey E. King, MD;
John P. Bent III, MD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:1118-1121.
Objective To determine whether water exposure causes middle ear contamination in patients with collar button tympanostomy tubes (TTs).
Method and Design An in vitro model of a human head that contained an auricle, external auditory canal, tympanic membrane with TT, middle ear, eustachian tube, and mastoid cavity was developed. Two electrodes connected to an external ohmmeter resided in the middle ear to detect water entry. The model was tested with 4 types of water exposure: showering, bathing, hair rinsing, and swimming. Statistical analysis was performed by the Fisher exact test.
Main Outcome Measures A positive test result corresponded to water entering the middle ear via the TT, confirmed by a resistance reading of zero on the ohmmeter. A negative test result indicated no change in the initial high resistance reading.
Results No positive test results were obtained for showering (0 of 60 tests), hair rinsing (0 of 60 tests), or head submersion (12.7 cm) in clean tap water (0 of 60 tests). Ten positive test results were obtained for head submersion in soapy water (10 of 97 tests), which was statistically different from clean water (P .007). Swimming pool depths of 30, 45, 60, and 75 cm elicited positive test results in 2 of 16, 3 of 18, 2 of 20, and 11 of 20 tests, respectively. A higher incidence of water entry into the middle ear occurred at depths of more than 60 cm (P.001). No statistical difference between depths of 60 cm or less occurred (P=.88).
Conclusions Showering, hair rinsing, and head submersion in clean tap water do not promote water entry into the middle ear. Submersion in soapy water increases the probability of water contamination. Pool water infrequently enters the middle ear with head submersion, but the incidence increases with deeper swimming (>60 cm). These data provide further evidence that many water precautions frequently advised in patients with TTs are unnecessary.
From the Division of Otolaryngology (Drs Hebert and Bent) and the Department of Biomechanics, Section of Biomedical Engineering, Research Support Services (Dr King), Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Pacific Northwest Survey: Posttympanostomy Tube Water Precautions
Poss et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008;134:133-135.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Retained Ventilation Tubes: Should They Be Removed at 2 Years?
El-Bitar et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;128:1357-1360.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Swimming With Tympanostomy Tubes
Giannoni
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;126:1507-1508.
FULL TEXT
Swimming With Tympanostomy Tubes: The Controversy Continues
Brodsky
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;126:1509-1509.
FULL TEXT
A Few Issues About the Bionic Ear
Ahmadizadeh et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;125:477-477.
FULL TEXT
|
