ConclusionS -carboxymethylcysteine is effective in the treatment of children with glue ear .
Objective To establish the clinical relevance of S-carboxymethylcysteine in the treatment of glue ear in children using measures approximating those saving a child from operation for grommet insertion .
The role of Mucodyne in reducing the need for surgery in patients with persistent otitis media with effusion.
UNLABELLED A recent meta- analysis suggested a possible beneficial effect of carboxymethylcysteine ( Mucodyne ) in resolving  otitis media with effusion ( OME ) , but the methodology in several of the included trials was flawed . A double-blind r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) involving 163 patients ( 78 r and omised to Mucodyne and 85 to placebo )  was therefore performed . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE operative intervention or not . Of the 28 patients with resolved OME  , 17 were in the Mucodyne group and 11 in the placebo group . Although it appeared that patients treated with Mucodyne were 1.68 times more likely to undergo resolution of OME than patients receiving placebo , this did not reach statistical significance . [ Risk ratio of 1.68 ( 95 % C.I. , 0.74 - 3.37 ) ] . chi2 test ( df = 162 ) = 2.24 ( P = 0.134 ) . The absolute risk difference in the study was 8.5 % ( 95 % C.I. , -3 - 20 ) . We can not exclude the possibility that Mucodyne is as beneficial as a 20 % additional resolution of OME , or as harmful as a 3 % decrease in the resolution of OME
ConclusionS -carboxymethylcysteine is effective in the treatment of children with glue ear .
Objective To establish the clinical relevance of S-carboxymethylcysteine in the treatment of glue ear in children using measures approximating those saving a child from operation for grommet insertion .