Objective: To assess the event rate of myringotomy and tube placement (M&T) in the pediatric patient population with sickle cell disease (SCD).
Methods: Four hundred and forty-nine children with confirmed SCD have been followed over a period of 11.5 years at two hospital-based pediatric hematology and otolaryngology offices, and three tertiary care hospitals. Children with SCD who had undergone M&T were identified via computer search of International Classification of Diseases codes by the medical records departments of the three hospitals, and from two databases of the hematology offices. The inpatient and outpatient medical records of all children identified were reviewed.
Results: For the 449 patients, mean duration of SCD follow-up was 6.13 +/- 3.36 years. Of these, eight patients (four boys, four girls, mean age 9 +/- 3.5 years; four patients had hemoglobin SC disease, and four patients had sickle cell anemia type SS) underwent M&T. Two children met criteria for severe SCD. The event rate for M&T insertion was 0.29/100 person-years, 95% CI (0.15, 0.58).
Conclusions: The event rate for M&T in children with SCD, compared to a historical control group, is lower than that of the general population. Type and severity of SCD were not predictive of the need for tube insertion. Children with sickle cell disease do not have an increased rate of M&T insertion.