Most tympanic effusions heal on their own, but a small percentage do not, leaving behind complications that can lead to adhesive otitis media. A tympanic effusion, also known as secretory otitis media, is mainly caused by obstruction of the eustachian tube between the ear and the nasal cavity, and should be treated with a combination of treatments, such as controlling the infection and improving the ventilation of the middle ear to treat the effusion. It can be treated with oral or nasal glucocorticoids, blowing of the eustachian tube, pinching of the nose, shutting up and puffing, oral mucus promoters, and nasal decongestants. If the tympanic effusion is not cured for a long time, tympanocentesis and tympanotomy can be used to treat the effusion.