The relationship between nasopharynx surface-active agents and otitis media effusion]

This experiment was done with a view to exploring the etiologic mechanism and new therapy of otitis media effusion (OME). The amount of lecithin, which is representative of the surfactants in the nasopharynx irrigation wash liquid, was determined by photometry in 40 cases OME and 40 normal controls. The results showed the surfactant of otitis media effusion (8.637 +/- 2.730 mg/L) was significantly lower than that of normal (39.212 +/- 2.437 mg/L) in the nasopharynx irrigation wash liquid (P < 0.01). The surfactant of child group of OME (8.062 +/- 2.925 mg/L) significantly lower than that of normal control(39.787 +/- 2.557 mg/L, P < 0.01). The surfactant of otitis media effusion in the nasopharynx irrigation wash liquid was not associated with the course of OME. These data suggest that the surfactant reduction in the nasopharynx could indirectly reflect the level of the surfactant in the eustachian tube and the middle ear and influence the eustachian tube function. Surfactant reduction may be one of the etiologic mechanisms of OME. Increasing the surfactant in the nasopharynx and eustachian tube could be beneficial to reducing the persistent otitis media effusion.