Bệnh lý tai giữa và hiệu quả đặt ống thông khí màng nhĩ trên bệnh nhân khe hở vòm miệng tại Bệnh viện Sản Nhi Nghệ An

Cleft palate is a significant congenital anomaly that profoundly impacts early childhood development, particularly concerning auditory health. The dysfunction of the Eustachian tube, common in children with cleft palate, frequently leads to a high incidence of middle ear diseases, including chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) and recurrent otitis media. Such conditions, if left unaddressed, can severely impair hearing during the critical period of language acquisition, affecting communication and learning abilities. Despite the clear need, comprehensive assessment and effective interventions, such as ventilation tube insertion (VTI), for this vulnerable population remain underexplored in many regions. This study aims to delineate the characteristics of middle ear diseases and evaluate the efficacy of ventilation tube insertion in children with cleft palate undergoing palatal repair, thereby contributing to improved clinical management.

ENT specialists, pediatricians, maxillofacial surgeons, and researchers focused on congenital anomalies and audiology.

Children with cleft palate frequently experience significant audiological challenges due to associated middle ear diseases, which can impede critical language development. This cross-sectional cohort study investigated 78 patients with cleft palate at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital between 2023 and 2024 to describe the middle ear status and assess the efficacy of ventilation tube insertion (VTI) combined with palatal repair. Comprehensive evaluation, including otoscopy and tympanometry, identified middle ear diseases in 60.26% of patients, with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) and atelectasis being the most common diagnoses at 30.76% and 24.35% respectively. Type B tympanograms, indicative of middle ear pathology, were observed in 66.23% of cases. When conditions like OME, recurrent otitis media, or atelectasis were present, ventilation tube insertion was performed simultaneously with palatal repair. The findings indicate that VTI is effective in resolving OME, with 77.58% of middle ears free from inflammation three months post-surgery. While effective, the study also reported post-VTI otorrhea in 10.34% of cases and tube extrusion in 8.66%. These results underscore the critical role of timely ventilation tube insertion in improving middle ear function and preventing long-term sequelae in children with cleft palate, emphasizing the need for integrated multidisciplinary care to optimize developmental outcomes.