Prognostic factors in otitis media with effusion

To determine which factors were associated with recurrence of otitis media with effusion following grommet insertion, the casenotes of 323 children who had a total of 485 operations for grommet insertion were reviewed. The incidence of repeat surgery was higher in those aged between four and six years, in those having grommet insertion between the months of July and October and in those cases in which the grommet was extruded within six months. Recurrence was not related to sex of the patient, month of listing for surgery, adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, length of time on the waiting list or past history of previous grommet insertion.