Otitis media with effusion can be successfully treated without the use of middle ear ventilation tubes. Middle ear inflation will, if performed properly, empty most ears as effectively as direct suction through a myringotomy incision. Over 12,000 patients with middle ear effusion have responded to conservative treatment which includes medical management aided by middle ear inflations using a modification of the classic politzerization technique. The technique of controlled middle ear inflation is described and the proper medical management discussed. The avoidance of oral decongestants is stressed as is the proper diagnosis and treatment of the etiological factors causing the formation of the fluid.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.