Tympanostomy tube placement is indicated in children with recurrent acute otitis media or chronic otitis media with effusion. Ear dishcarge, otorrhea, is the most common complication following tympanostomy tube placement and occurs in up to 25% of patients. Otorrhea can lead to tube obstruction, making the tube ineffective in ventilating the middle ear or improving hearing. Otolaryngologists routinely administer ear drops at the time of tympanostomy tube placement in order to prevent otorrhea and tube blockage; however, there is lack of consensus as to which drops are the most effective and what dosing regimen should be used.
Options for prevention of otorrhea and tympanostomy tube blockage include intraoperative single-dose application of topical drops or postoperative prolonged application of topical drops. One issue with the prolonged application of drops after surgery is the requirement of parents to administer the drops at home. Thus, the delivery of medication to the middle ear is variable given the difficulty of administering ear drops to a child. Another option exists as a one-time application at the time of surgery, but provides an extended duration of medication in the middle ear. Otiprio is a single-dose suspension of ciprofloxacin and has been FDA approved since February 2015 for use in pediatric patients with otitis media with effusion who require tympanostomy tube placement. Otiprio exists as a liquid at or below room temperature and transitions into a gel after exposure to body temperature in the middle ear. Administrated as an injection into the middle ear at the time of tympanostomy tube placement, Otipiro slowly releases antibiotic treatment over the course of a week, eliminating the need for parents to administer drops.
The study is a prospective, randomized (1:1:1), single-blind, trial of three treatment groups in pediatric subjects with bilateral middle ear effusion who require tympanostomy tube placement. Approximately 300 subjects will be randomized: 100 randomized to receive Otiprio intraoperatively, 100 randomized to receive Ciprodex intraoperatively, and 100 randomized to receive Ciprodex intraoperatively with five days of Ciprodex drops postoperatively.
All participants will undergo tympanostomy tube placement in the operating room as clinically indicated by an Otolaryngologist. Prior to the surgery, the patient will be randomized to one of the three trial arms. During the operation, the surgeon, who will be blinded until completion of tube placement as to which arm the participant is randomized, will administer Otiprio as a one-time intratympanic injection or Ciprodex, by administering 3-5 drops into each ear canal. For the trial arm that includes a 5 day course of Ciprodex postoperatively, the patient's parents will be instructed on how to administer the drops. As per standard of care, all participants will be assessed at a postoperative visit 2-4 weeks post surgery. A blinded assessor to the randomized study arm will perform otoscopy (ear exam) during that visit to determine if there is presence of otorrhea or tympanostomy tube blockage.
