Gastric reflux is uncommon in acute post-tympanostomy otorrhea

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Apr;132(4):523-6. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2004.12.004.

Abstract

Objective: Acute post-tympanostomy otorrhea (APTO) is a common complication of tympanostomy tube placement. APTO has been related primarily to viral upper respiratory infections and external ear contamination. Elevated levels of gastric enzymes have been found in a large proportion of chronic middle ear effusions, implicating gastric reflux (GR) in its pathogenesis. Thus, our objective was to determine whether GR may be a contributing factor in the development of APTO.

Study design and setting: Prospective, nonrandomized design. Otorrhea samples were collected from children with APTO. Total pepsinogen concentrations were measured with a commercial ELISA, using a pepsinogen I-specific capture antibody and horseradish peroxidase detection antibody.

Results: Twenty-six samples from 24 patients were collected and analyzed. Eight samples demonstrated measurable pepsinogen I, but the measured concentrations, 2-17 mg/L, were below the normal serum reference ranges.

Conclusions: GR does not play a major role in the development of APTO in children.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Causality
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / complications*
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / diagnosis
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Ear Ventilation*
  • Otitis Media / epidemiology
  • Otitis Media / surgery*
  • Otitis Media with Effusion / epidemiology
  • Otitis Media with Effusion / surgery*
  • Pepsinogen A / analysis*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / complications
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Virus Diseases / complications
  • Virus Diseases / diagnosis

Substances

  • Pepsinogen A