Unilateral insertion of grommets in bilateral secretory otitis media

In 193 children with chronic secretory otitis media, adenotomy and bilateral evacuation of middle ear effusion were performed together with only unilateral insertion of grommet. At tympanometry 3 months later there was already significant remission of the disease in the non-treated ears. Only 23 % of the patients had to have a grommet inserted in the non-treated ear during the period of observation and at follow-up 1 to 3 years later no significant difference was present between the two ears at tympanometry.