Middle ear fluid buildup is common in young children on ventilators, new study finds

Babies and toddlers who need a tracheostomy—a tube surgically inserted into their windpipe to help relieve breathing problems—are at a high risk of accumulating fluid behind their eardrum when on a ventilator. That's the conclusion of a new study, published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, by UT Southwestern head and neck surgeons. This buildup of fluid, called a middle ear effusion, can put them at risk for ear infections, hearing loss, and delays in speech and language development.