New AHRQ Review Evaluates Treatment Options for Otitis Media with Effusion

Patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) benefit from placement of tympanostomy tubes and removal of the adenoids, either alone or in combination, according to a new AHRQ-funded research review. The treatment options for OME, a collection of fluid in the middle ear that presents without symptoms of acute infection, decrease its duration by up to 2 years and improve hearing by up to 1 year. However, results were mixed about any additional potential benefit of using both treatment options, and evidence of potential harms was associated with each. Drainage from the ear is common after placement of tympanostomy tubes and can be persistent; post-surgical hemorrhage, although rare, can result from adenoidectomy. Consistent with current guidelines, newer evidence did not show that nasal or oral steroids provide any benefit. Additional research is needed to support treatment decisions in subpopulations, including adults; children with coexisting conditions such as craniofacial abnormalities or Down syndrome; and children who have received pneumococcal vaccination, which is associated with a reduced risk of acute otitis media. Select to access the research review, Otitis Media With Effusion: Comparative Effectiveness of Treatments.