Balancing intervention and complications: management of otitis media with effusion in children with cleft palate

Background. Children with cleft palate (CP) are at high risk for otitis media with effusion (OME), which may impair hearing, speech, and development. Although ventilation tube (VT) insertion during palatoplasty is common, its universal use is debated due to uncertain long-term benefits and potential complications. This study aimed to identify preoperative audiological predictors of VT necessity and evaluate VT-related complications. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted on 65 non-syndromic CP patients who underwent palatal repair without prior or concurrent VT placement. Preoperative audiological evaluations were performed, and patients were followed postoperatively for VT insertion and complications. Preoperative hearing thresholds, cleft severity (Veau classification), and VT related complications were analyzed statistically. Results. The likelihood of VT insertion rose significantly in parallel with the severity of preoperative hearing loss, ranging from just 5.9% in patients with normal hearing to 75% in those with moderate conductive hearing loss (CHL) (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences between normal hearing and both mild (p = 0.0026) and moderate CHL (p = 0.01). CP severity was not associated with preoperative hearing but correlated with higher VT placement (Veau I: 10%, Veau IV: 69.2%; p = 0.035). Complications included otorrhea (45.2%), early extrusion (35.5%), and tympanic membrane perforation (12.9%), with no significant associations to preoperative hearing level and CP severity. Conclusion. Preoperative hearing level at the time of palate repair is a strong predictor of VT need in CP patients. Mild to moderate CHL significantly increases the risk of persistent OME, supporting early intervention. Normal or slight loss often resolves without treatment, favoring a conservative approach. Higher cleft severity is associated with increased VT placement rates; it does not correlate with preoperative hearing levels or increased VT-related complications. These findings highlight the value of individualized, hearing-based decisions over routine tube placement.