Table 4.
Appropriateness of tympanostomy tube placement in patients with recurrent acute otitis media
| Indications | Frequency of occurrence* | |
|---|---|---|
| Low | High | |
| A. Absence of severe disruption of family life and: | ||
| A1. No antibiotic prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Uncertain |
| A2. Short term antibiotic prophylaxis and no otitis media on prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Uncertain |
| A3. Short term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media within one month of discontinuing prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Appropriate |
| A4. Short term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media on prophylaxis | Uncertain | Appropriate |
| A5. Long term antibiotic prophylaxis and no otitis media on prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Inappropriate |
| A6. Long term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media within one month of discontinuing prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Appropriate |
| A7. Long term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media on prophylaxis | Uncertain | Appropriate |
| B. Severe disruption of family life and: | ||
| B1. No antibiotic prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Appropriate |
| B2. Short term antibiotic prophylaxis and no otitis media on prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Uncertain |
| B3. Short term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media within one month of discontinuing prophylaxis | Uncertain | Appropriate |
| B4. Short term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media on prophylaxis | Uncertain | Appropriate |
| B5. Long term antibiotic prophylaxis and no otitis media on prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Inappropriate |
| B6. Long term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media within one month of discontinuing prophylaxis | Inappropriate | Appropriate |
| B7. Long term antibiotic prophylaxis and otitis media on prophylaxis | Uncertain | Appropriate |
*Acute otitis media considered to be of high frequency if at least four episodes of acute otitis media had occurred in the six months preceding surgery, or six or more episodes in the year before surgery with at least two episodes in the six months preceding surgery; otherwise frequency was considered to be low.