Abstract
Objectives: Using transcanal endoscopic ear surgery to manage middle ear
disease in children remains a controversial topic. The aim of this study
was to compare the efficacy of transcanal endoscopic ear surgery between
children and adults. Methods: This study consisted of 20 children (31
ears) and 86 adults (102 ears) with chronic otitis media who underwent
transcanal endoscopic ear surgery between January 2014 and August 2016
at Taipei and Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital. Among these patients, 13
children (23 ears) and 23 adults (34 ears) had chronic otitis media with
effusion, 4 children (5 ears) and 46 adults (51 ears) had chronic otitis
media without cholesteatomas, and 3 children (3 ears) and 17 adults (17
ears) had cholesteatomas. The two groups were compared with respect to
(1) surgical outcome, which included the rates of surgical success,
hearing restoration, and postoperative complications, and (2) surgical
time. Results: We observed no significant difference between pediatric
and adult patients with regard to the rates of surgical success,
postoperative hearing gain, and postoperative complications in all
surgical procedures. As for ventilation tube insertion, the pediatric
patients had shorter surgical time compared to adult patients. With
respect to tympanoplasty, the pediatric group had a longer surgical time
than adults did. Conclusions: Our study showed that transcanal
endoscopic ear surgery can be successfully applied to manage various
middle ear diseases in children.