This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related articles  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Quality of Life  • Alert me on articles by topic

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126:1507-1508.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Hypothesis

Children with tympanostomy tubes (TTs) can be permitted to swim without any increased risk of infection.

BACKGROUND

Tympanostomy tube insertion is one of the most commonly performed otolaryngologic operations. Approximately 700,000 cases are performed annually.¹ Postoperative otorrhea is one of the most common complications of TT insertion. Otorrhea occurs sporadically in 20% of patients and regularly in 10%.² Prevention of otorrhea has traditionally included the strict prevention of water penetration into the external auditory canal. This has been primarily achieved by the use of barrier methods (cotton wool, custom earplugs, ear putty, bathing caps, etc), but in some cases chemical means in the form of ototopical drops have been advocated.

Figure appears in full text version. Carla Giannoni, MD

The past decade has seen a plethora of journal articles addressing this issue of water precautions and swimming. The primary question is "can children with TTs or pressure equalization tubes be permitted to swim without any increased risk . . . [Full Text of this Article]

PRO

CON

BOTTOM LINE

RELATED ARTICLES

Swimming With Tympanostomy Tubes
Carla Giannoni
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126(12):1507-1508.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Swimming With Tympanostomy Tubes: The Controversy Continues
Linda Brodsky
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126(12):1509.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT