Abstract:

Objective　The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the tympanotomy and pressure equilibrium tube insertion during palatoplasty on the alleviation of otitis media with effusion.Methods　A total of 49 ears in 38 cases of patients with cleft palate and otitis media with effusion were only treated with palatoplasty. Other 39 ears in 24 patients with middle ear effusion were treatedwith the palatoplasty and insertion of pressure equilibriumtubes. The function of the middle ear in each patientwas eval- uated 6 months after the operation.Results　48.7% of ears with middle ear effusion were healed in the group of the palatoplasty combined with pressure equilibrium tube insertion, and the hearing level was raised about 17dB six months after operation.Conclu- sion　The pressure equilibrium tube insertion is helpful for the recovery of the middle ear function in patients with cleft palate and middle media effusion.

Key words: cleft palate, otitis media with effusion, palatoplasty, insertion of pressure equilibrium tube