Steroid Versus Antibiotic Drops in the Prevention of Postoperative Myringotomy Tube Complications

Objectives:To determine the incidence of early postoperative tympanostomy tube insertion otorrhea and obstruction in pediatric patients receiving antibiotic ear drops with or without steroid perioperatively.Methods:A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent outpatient myringotomy and tube placement. Patients from June 2013 to February 2014 received ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone perioperatively while patients from May 2014 to April 2015 received ofloxacin. Statistical analysis was performed to compare outcomes between the cohorts.Results:One hundred thirty-four patients received topical ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone, and 116 patients received topical ofloxacin. The rate of postoperative otorrhea was 5.2% for the ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone group and 8.2% for the ofloxacin group. Tube obstruction was seen in 6.0% of the ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone group and 5.2% in the ofloxacin group. Neither outcome had a statistically significant difference (P = .21 and .85, respectively). There was...