Removal of biofilm is essential for long-term ventilation tube retention

Table 1 Characteristics of study participants

No.	Sex/age (yr)	Diagnosis	Follow-up intervals (mo)	Retention time (mo)
1	F/72	MD	2	24
2	M/37	MD	12	84
3	F/42	MD	1	12
4	M/55	ROME	6	24
5	M/60	ROME	6	24
6	F/39	MD	1.5	42
7	M/25	MD	12	72
8	M/51	MD	12	60
9	F/55	ROME	/	24
10	M/63	ROME	/	9
11	M/79	ROME	/	5
12	F/46	ROME	/	8
13	M/64	ROME	/	12
14	F/49	ROME	/	4
15	F/75	ROME	/	2
16	F/40	ROME	/	12

M: Male; F: Female; MD: Meniere disease; ROME: Refractory otitis media with effusion.

Table 2 Univariate analysis

	Total (n = 16)	Treatment (n = 8)	Control (n = 8)	P value
Sex				0.619
Male	9 (56.25)	5 (62.5)	3 (37.5)
Female	7 (43.75)	3 (37.5)	5 (62.5)
Age (yr)	53.3 ± 15.0	47.6 ± 14.9	58.9 ± 13.9	0.140

Values are presented as n (%) or mean ± standard deviation.

Table 3 State of tympanostomy tube in the two groups

	Total		Treatment	Control	P value
Position					0.010
Yes		8	7	7
No		8	1	1
Patency					0.010
Yes		8	7	7
No		8	1	1