EarPopper Use in Otitis Media Orient Journal of Medicine Vol 33 [1-2] Jan-June, 2021 |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Use of EarPopper® for The Treatment of Otitis Media with Effusion: A First Pilot Study in Africa |
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Titus S IBEKWE1,2 Enoch A DAHILO1 David O FOLORUNSHO1 Toochukwu UZOCHUKWU1 Bosa EGBE1 Oladeji R QUADRI1 Frederick DAMTONG1 Basil C NWANKWO1 Iboro ETUKUMANA1 Ibeneche O GBUJIE1,3 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology University of Abuja & University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Abuja, NIGERIA 2Garki Hospital Abuja 3Abuja Clinic Abuja Author for Correspondence Prof Titus IBEKWE University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada Abuja PMB 228 Abuja, NIGERIA Email: titus.ibekwe@uniabuja.edu.ng Phone: +234 803 348 4380 Received: January 25th, 2021 Accepted: February 10th, 2021 DISCLOSURE Authors declare no conflict of interest or financial support for the study |
ABSTRACT Background: A missed or non-diagnosed otitis media with effusion at very early age in life can impair the cognitive developmental milestone, especially hearing. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment (medical, surgical or physiological) is pertinent. A search for an inexpensive, minimally invasive method led to the development of EarPopper® Methodology: A prospective interventional study on the use of EarPopper® in the treatment of otitis media with effusion. The EarPopper® uses the Politzer method of pressure equilibration to decongest the middle ear through the Eustachian tube. Result: Seven patients (4 males, 3 females) aged between 11 and 54 years were enrolled. Five were bilateral and 2 were unilateral (12 ears). All had type B curves and mild to moderate conductive hearing loss. The pre-therapy EarPopper Scoring System were 60-98%, while the post therapy result dropped to 0-25%. Conclusion: The EarPopper® showed a good prospect in the treatment of otitis media with effusion in an African population. Key words Otorhinolaryngologic diseases, EarPopper Scoring System, Pilot study, Ear diseases, Otitis media |