Obstruction of the eustachian tube orifice and pressure changes in the middle ear: are they correlated?

OBJECTIVES: We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate whether the obstruction of the eustachian tube orifice due to adenoid hyperplasia changes the pressures in the middle ear. METHOD: Fifty consecutive children 2 to 12 years of age with nasal obstruction were examined from May to October 2005. Adenoid size and status of the eustachian tube orifice were assessed with nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy. Tympanometry was used to evaluate the middle ear. RESULTS: In children with occlusion of the eustachian tube orifice by adenoid tissue, 87% had abnormal pressure in the middle ear according to tympanograms. When orifices were not occluded, 86% of the tympanograms were normal (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Obstruction of the eustachian tube orifice by adenoid tissue was associated with tympanograms suggestive of abnormal pressure in the middle ear. Future studies with a larger sample size are necessary to clarify this association.     

分泌性中耳炎咽鼓管及鼓室黏膜的光镜及电镜观察

目的：探讨分泌性中耳炎的发病原因，为临床治疗提供理论依据。方法：通过微波烧灼双侧咽鼓管口，建立分泌性中耳炎动物模型。光镜观察比较咽鼓管管腔及黏一软骨膜和鼓室黏膜变化。电镜观察咽鼓管鼓室段暗颗粒分泌细胞及其表面活性物质样板层体的变化。结果：各组咽鼓管管腔通畅，咽鼓管黏一软骨膜不易受炎症浸润及负压影响。鼓室黏膜水肿、增生、炎性细胞浸润明显，暗颗粒细胞分泌功能受损，表面活性物质板层体结构明显减少或消失。结论：咽鼓管黏一软骨膜在分泌性中耳炎发病过程中起重要作用。表面活性物质减少与分泌性中耳炎的发生密切相关。     

Eustachian tube in atrophic rhinitis

Atropic Rhinitis is a chronic non-specific disease characterised by atrophy of mucosa and turbinate bones. Maxillary antrum may sometimes be involved as result of primary disease or at time secondary to mucosal pathology or crusting. Extension of disease involving the eustachian tube is uncertain. In the present study, endoscopy of the nasopharynx was performed in 20 patients with atrophic rhinitis to find out the type, nature and site of lesion at the orifice of the eustachian tube. The lesion was found in seven cases (35%) involving the eustachian tube. The lesion occurs in form of atrophic changes with crusting granuloma and thick mucoid area. Endoscopy is also found to be therepeutic value in removing the thick discharge crust etc. at the orifice of eustachian tube to prevent the otological complications     

Transtympanic endoscopic findings in patients with otitis media with effusion

Using a fine, rigid endoscope (Olympus, SES-1711K), we examined the middle ear, including the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, of children with otitis media with effusion (OME) in its active stage (26 ears), in the convalescent stage (13 ears), and during treatment with ventilation tubes for 10 days to 6 months (five ears) through myringotomy with the patients under general anesthesia. Several color photographs of representative ears are shown. In the active stage of OME, edema (73.1%) and hyperemia (23.1%) were characteristic features of the middle ear mucosa, and normal mucosa was seen in only one ear (3.1%). The tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, which could be examined in 12 ears, were stenosed with edema in four ears (33.3%) or plugged with effusion in three ears (25.0%) in this group. In the convalescent stage of OME, dilated vessels were most often seen (69.2%), but the rest of the patients had normal mucosa (30.8%) in the middle ear, and none of them had edema nor hyperemia. The tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, which could be examined in five ears, was clearly patent in all the patients in this group. One ear that was treated with a ventilation tube for 1 month showed dilated vessels and less severe inflammation than did ears that were in the active stage of OME, and three ears that were treated for more than 3 months showed almost normal middle ear mucosa.     

Anatomy of the chinchilla bulla and eustachian tube: I. Gross and microscopic study

The middle ear mucosa and eustachian tube of the normal chinchilla were studied quantitatively and under light microscopy to determine the distribution of each cell type of the lining epithelium and subepithelial gland. The middle ear mucosa consisted of columnar epithelium, cuboidal epithelium, and squamous epithelium. The lining epithelium of the eustachian tube was ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. These epithelia were composed of ciliated, secretory, nonciliated (nonsecretory), and basal cells. The density of the ciliated cells was highest in the columnar epithelium area of the transitional zone of the middle ear mucosa. However, the density of the secretory cells was highest in the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube. The nonciliated cell density was highest in the squamous epithelium area of the middle ear mucosa and decreased progressively toward the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube. In the eustachian tube, the nonciliated cell density was highest in the pharyngeal portion of the eustachian tube, especially in the upper portion of the lateral wall. The subepithelial glands were tubuloacinar mixed glands composed of serous demilunes and mucous acini. The glands were localized primarily in the pharyngeal orifice and pharyngeal portion of the eustachian tube, and their ductal openings were present primarily in the inferior portion of the eustachian tube.     

Eustachian tube function in tympanoplasty

This paper describes central and peripheral eustachian tube function in relation to tympanoplasty. Central obstruction of the eustachian tube at the pharyngeal orifice is frequently correctable and is not a contraindication to tympanoplasty, whereas chronic cicatricial peripheral obstruction of the eustachian tube at the isthmus is a contraindication to tympanoplasty. These findings are based on tubal patency pressure studies measured with a mercurial manometer with the patient performing the Valsalva maneuver, with catheterization of the eustachian tube, and with politzerization. If the patient can autoinflate the middle ear and if the eustachian tube will open with politzerization, then the likelihood exists that there is no peripheral obstruction of the eustachian tube and you have a good candidate for tympanoplasty. When there is a perforation of the ear drum, the best test for eustachian tube function is microscopic examination of the middle ear mucosa. If the middle ear mucosa is perfectly normal, then you know that you have good eustachian tube function and can proceed with the tympanoplasty.     

儿童鼻窦炎对咽鼓管与中耳传音功能的影响

目的：探讨儿童鼻窦炎对咽鼓管与中耳传音功能的影响及程度,观察治疗鼻窦炎后,中耳传音功能障碍的恢复情况。方法：对儿童鼻窦炎100例和正常儿童50例行耳科检查、咽鼓管咽口观察、声阻抗检查、纯音测听,对比结果;对鼻窦炎合并耳病变的68例患者（128耳）行有针对性的治疗。结果：鼻窦炎患者中鼓膜异常率为64%、咽鼓管咽口异常率为62%、咽鼓管功能异常率为63.5%、鼓室导抗图异常率为62.5%,听力减退47.5%,与正常儿童组相比,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。急性鼻窦炎、亚急性鼻窦炎与慢性鼻窦炎中耳病变的发生率和程度相比,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。治疗鼻窦炎后,中耳传音功能障碍有明显改善。结论：儿童鼻窦炎引起咽鼓管功能的改变,中耳病变发生率较正常儿童显著增高;随病程的延长,发病率增高且程度加重。     

Ligation of eustachian tube for intractable patulous eustachian tube: a preliminary report

Pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube was ligated on ten patients, 15 ears with intractable patulous eustachian tube. While the eustachian tube orifice was observed by an endoscope inserted through the contralateral nostril, the orifice was ligated transnasally and/or transorally using instruments usually used in the endoscopic nasal surgery. Now 13–27 months after the surgery, the outcome was excellent (both symptoms and sonotubometry were normalized) in two ears, good (either symptoms or sonotubometry was improved) in seven ears, and unchanged in the remaining six ears. In one of the ears with an outcome of unchanged, the ligation was found to be spontaneously released soon after surgery, but the symptom was improved after the second operation 2.5 months after the first operation. Temporary otitis media with effusion was seen in one ear, mild inflammation around the ligated site also in one ear, but no other serious complication has been observed. Although further improvement in the surgical procedure and further discussion about its long-term outcome should be required, this procedure appeared to be one of the therapeutic options for intractable patulous eustachian tube.     

Pathology of the eustachian tube in otitis media: an electron microscopic study

The ultrastructure of the mucosa of the eustachian tube was studied in four temporal bones showing tympanosclerosis, cholesteatoma, otitic meningitis and a grafted tympanic membrane (tympanoplasty). The mucosa of tube was abnormal in the four cases confirming the relationship between the state of the eustachian tube and the inflammatory process in the middle ear. The observed abnormalities included: ciliary loss, abnormal ciliary morphology and motility, oedema of the microvilli, hyperplasia of the goblet cells and the seromucinous acini, desquamation of the non-ciliated cells and appearance of mast cells in the lamina propria of the tube. Ciliary changes were the most frequent abnormalities and the morphological changes, in general, were fewest in the case of healed tympanoplasty. The pathophysiology of the morphological changes was discussed and correlated with the disease in the middle ear.     

鼻内镜下导管法咽鼓管吹张及鼓室给药治疗非化脓性中耳炎

目的 观察鼻内镜下导管法咽鼓管吹张及鼓室给药治疗非化脓性中耳炎的疗效。方法 30例由咽鼓管功能不良引起的、以鼓膜内陷为主要表现的慢性分泌性中耳炎患者，在鼻内镜引导下行导管法咽鼓管吹张，并经导管吹人泼尼松龙和玻璃酸钠混合液体2ml，隔日1次，共7～lO次，检查咽鼓管功能及鼓膜形态，检测听力．评估耳鸣及耳闭塞感变化。结果30例咽鼓管功能明显改善或恢复正常，鼓膜内陷不同程度缓解，无粘连发生。纯音听阈（0．5，1．0，2．0，4．0kHz平均听阈）下降10-30dB28例，无变化2例；耳鸣消失19例，减轻7例，无效4例：耳闭塞感消失26例，明显减轻4例。结论 鼻内镜下导管法咽鼓管吹张及鼓室给药治疗由咽鼓管功能不良引起的、以鼓膜内陷为主要表现的慢性分泌性中耳炎，能改善听力，缓解耳鸣及耳闭塞感症状。其操作简单，患者痛苦小，易于接受。     

Endoscopic examination of the eustachian tube: a step-by-step approach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a step-by-step approach for endoscopic examinations of the eustachian tube on awake patients and to report anatomic and functional findings. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Convenience sample of seven individuals without a history of ear disease. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic transnasal-transpharyngeal videoendoscopy of the eustachian tube with 30- and 70-degree rigid Hopkins rod endoscopes, 2.5- and 0.8-mm, 0-degree flexible fiber endoscopes performed under local anesthesia in 12 eustachian tubes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Utility of the various endoscopes for the diagnosis in the different parts of the eustachian tube; quality of vision and the patient's comfort during the procedure. RESULTS: The 2.5-mm flexible endoscope was most useful for examination of the pharyngeal ostium and the cartilaginous lumen of the tube. The isthmus region could only be passed using an 0.8-mm fiberscope. In all cases, it was possible to insert the endoscope into the middle ear cavity. Eleven of the 12 tube examinations showed normal findings. The mobility of the tubal cartilage could be visualized with sufficient quality. In 50% of all examinations, application of local anesthesia via a tube catheter was necessary to make the procedure tolerable. CONCLUSION: The presented approach allows an assessment of both anatomic and functional changes to the eustachian tube in awake patients. The assessment of middle ear structures is limited. To ensure a comfortable and safe procedure, the use of topical anesthesia in a supine position and, in certain cases, additional anesthesia via eustachian tube catheter is recommended.     

Middle ear ossicular replacement prostheses: cause of failure]

There are various prostheses used for ossiculoplasty in chronic middle ear disease. Plastipores are one of the most commonly used prostheses. We performed ossiculoplasty with plastipores in 237 ear operations in a five years period. The results of the operations were summarized and causes of prosthesis failure were discussed. In 55 (23.2%) patients, tympanic membrane perforation recurred. Cholesteatoma recurrence was encountered in 16 (6.8%) cases. The extrusion of prosthesis was observed in 10 (4.2%) cases. The underlying ear disease was cleaned in 156 (65.8%) patients. An air-bone gap to within 20 dB was achieved in 87 (55.8%) ou of 156 patients. In 69 (44.2%) the gap closure was more than 20 dB. The experience of the surgeon in otologic surgery, severity of the chronic ear disease, status of the eustachian tube, extention of the ossicular chain disruption, type of surgery and characteristics of the prosthesis are critical for ossiculoplasty.     

Laser eustachian tuboplasty: two-year results

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Laser eustachian tuboplasty (LETP) combined with appropriate medical management will eliminate the chronic presence of middle ear effusions in selected patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 13 adults with otitis media with effusion (OME). Patients underwent slow-motion video endoscopy to identify the location and extent of surgical resection. A diode or argon laser was used to vaporize areas of hypertrophic mucosa and submucosa along the cartilaginous eustachian tube. Patients were evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 months. Successful outcome was defined as absence of OME. Patients with evidence of reflux disease or allergic rhinitis were treated with medical therapy before surgery and throughout the follow-up period as indicated. RESULTS: LETP combined with medical management eliminated OME in 36% (4 of 11) of patients at 6 months, 40% (4 of 10) at 1 year, and 38% (3 of 8) at 2 years. Failure of LETP correlated with presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (P = .01) or allergic disease (P = .05) for the results at 1 year but not at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: LETP combined with appropriate medical management may be an effective treatment in select patients with chronic persistent eustachian tube dysfunction. A controlled trial with a larger number of subjects will be necessary to determine the efficacy of LETP and identify those factors predictive of successful outcome.     

Possible role of Helicobacter pylori in the etiopathogenesis of chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a possible contribution from Helicobacter pylori to the etiopathogenesis of chronic otitis media. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. METHODS: Tympanomastoidectomy, radical mastoidectomy, and modified radical mastoidectomy procedures were performed according to the pathology of ear disease. Biopsy specimens were taken from middle ear, mastoid antrum, and tympanic orifice of eustachian tube. Helicobacter pylori DNA was extracted from these biopsy specimens by using nested polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori DNA was detected in 3 (7.9%) of 38 chronic otitis media patients. CONCLUSION: Even though it is possible to detect Helicobacter pylori in middle ear cleft in chronic otitis media, its role in the etiopathogenesis of the issue is controversial.     

咽鼓管粘膜分泌细胞与表面活性物质样板层体的观察

为深入研究咽鼓管的超微结构与生理功能，应用超微细胞化学方法观察正常豚鼠咽鼓管粘膜分泌细胞与表面活性物质样板层体的分布特点。分泌细胞可以分为亮颗粒细胞，暗颗粒细胞与混合颗粒细胞三种。亮颗粒细胞主要分布在咽鼓管咽口部，混合颗粒细胞主要分布在咽鼓管峡部，暗颗粒细胞主要分布在咽鼓管鼓室口部和鼓室粘膜。表面活性物质样板层体可见于咽鼓管粘膜的纤毛细胞、无纤毛细胞和各种分泌细胞，可能是表面活性物质的前体，对维持咽鼓管的正常生理功能有一定关系。通过超微细胞化学方法证实了表面活性物质样板层体的存在，为今后深入开展咽鼓管的生理和病理研究打下了基础。     

鼻咽癌放疗后咽鼓管功能障碍的几种类型

目的：了解鼻咽癌放疗后咽鼓管功能障碍的类型及其影响。方法：对32例(50耳)鼻咽癌放疗后有咽鼓管功能障碍的患者进行常规检查、听力计检查、鼓室导抗图法检查、咽鼓管一鼓室气流动态法(TTAG)检查、咽鼓管音响法检查和内镜检查咽鼓管咽口。结果：咽鼓管异常开放2例(4耳)，患者症状较轻。咽鼓管粘连5例(7耳)，咽鼓管完全阻塞17例(27耳)，咽鼓管不全阻塞8例(12耳)，后三者症状相似，主要导致分泌性中耳炎。结论：鼻咽癌放疗后可导致不同类型的咽鼓管功能障碍，对耳功能产生损害，对其了解将有助于针对性治疗方法的确定。     

Condition of the anterior part of the middle ear cleft in acquired cholesteatoma

CONCLUSION: The high rate of flogistic suffering of the controlateral ear seems to suggest a correlation between tubal dysfunction and acquired cholesteatoma but the low rate of pathological reports regarding the anterior mesotympanic region exclude a eustachian tube dysfunction (EDT) at the time of surgery. These observations support the hypothesis that ETD is not a factor that may influence the evolution of the cholesteatoma. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of eustachian tube function in the middle ear secondary acquired cholesteatoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a case series study. The study group consisted of 72 patients submitted to tympanoplasty for middle ear secondary acquired cholesteatoma. RESULTS: The contralateral ear was normal in 37 subjects (51%) and affected by chronic otitis media in 35 (49%); the anterior part of middle ear cleft was normal in 53 patients (74%). There was no significant relationship between the contralateral ear condition and the status of the anterior region of middle ear (p>0.05). The site of retraction or the presence of tympanic perforation with skin migration was not related to the condition of the protympanum. Otorrhea, cholesteatoma extension, and ossicular chain lesions were not significantly related to the status of the anterior part of the middle ear cleft (p>0.05).     

局麻下咽鼓管球囊扩张术加鼓膜置管术治疗顽固性分泌性中耳炎

目的：探讨局麻下咽鼓管球囊扩张术加鼓膜置管术治疗顽固性分泌性中耳炎的临床疗效。方法收集顽固性分泌性中耳炎患者20例（24耳）,于门诊局麻下,结合鼻内镜经鼻腔径路行咽鼓管咽口球囊扩张,并行鼓膜置管。所有患者均于术后3个月拔出T型管。结果术后随访6个月,18例患者耳闷塞感、听物朦胧感症状明显减轻,未再出现鼓室内积液。2例术后仍有耳内闷胀及听力下降,耳内镜检查示鼓室积液未吸收,再次置入T型通气管后症状改善。结论局麻下行咽鼓管球囊扩张术加鼓膜置管术治疗顽固性分泌性中耳炎疗效显著,对于改善咽鼓管功能方法安全可行,并发症极小,是一种微创的新方法。     

Structural changes in the rat middle ear mucosa due to endotoxin and eustachian tube obstruction

The middle ears of 48 rats were used to examine the effects of endotoxin injection, eustachian tube obstruction or a combination of eustachian tube obstruction and endotoxin injection. Animals were killed after 1, 2, 4, or 12 weeks and the middle ears processed for light and scanning electron microscopy. Compared to the normal middle ear mucosa, the epithelial layer was more pseudostratified, cuboidal or cylindrical after endotoxin injection or obstruction of the eustachian tube. In the early phase, numerous ciliated cells occurred in areas originally almost devoid of these cells. At 3 months, degeneration of ciliated cells was observed. The combination of eustachian tube obstruction and endotoxin injection also induced a more pseudostratified, cuboidal or cylindrical epithelium with an increased number of goblet cells. However, an early decrease occurred in the number of ciliated cells in the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube. Furthermore, inflammatory cells, mainly PMNs, macrophages and lymphocytes, invaded the subepithelial layer after eustachian tube obstruction and endotoxin injection. These structural changes resulted in an impairment of the mucociliary transport system for clearance of the middle ear cavity. For this reason we believe that both endotoxin and eustachian tube obstruction or dysfunction play an important role in inducing persistent mucosal changes in the middle ear cavity, thereby prolonging otitis media with effusion. Received: 13 February 1998 / Accepted: 4 August 1998     

Computed tomography in the study of the eustachian tube

A CT study was made of the eustachian tube in normal subjects as a control group and patients with chronic pathological inflammation of the middle ear. CT made it possible to perform contiguous scans at homologous depths of 1.5 mm, showing the whole interior of the tube in clear detail: the protympanum, the bony and cartilaginous portions, and the nasopharyngeal orifice. In most of the cases of pathological middle ear inflammations, the eustachian tube lumen was seen to be constricted and obstructed with isodense matter. Our present results also show the importance of extending CT investigations beyond the tympanic cavity and the mastoid to the eustachian tube in order to have more clinical data on its condition.