Ventilation tubes (VT) v watchful waiting (WW) in children with otitis media with effusion*
| Outcomes | Number of trials (number of patients) | Mean | Mean difference (p value or 95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VT | WW | |||
| *CI = confidence interval; SE = standard error. | ||||
| †Data provided by author. | ||||
| §Not significant. | ||||
| Time spent with effusion at 12 months (wk) | {4}† (n = 557) | 20 | 37 | 17 (p<0.001) |
| Binaural hearing level at 6 months (dB) | 4 (n = 381) | 26.6 | 31.1 | 4.5 (1.7 to 7.3) |
| Binaural hearing level at 12 months (dB) | 4 (n = 379) | 27.3 | 27.6 | 0.3 (−2.7 to 2.1)§ |
| Language development at 6-9 months (standardised z score) | 3 (n = 381) | 0.02 | −0.003 | 0.02 (−2.8 to 2.8)§ |