Compliance of the eustachian tube in patients with otitis media with effusion

To analyze the compliance of the eustachian tube, we measured the decrease in tubal resistance (pressure/air flow) with increasing air flow rate through the eustachian tubal lumen. When the eustachian tube is compliant, the tubal resistance decreases greatly because of the high distensibility of the tube. The tubal compliance index (TCI), which is the ratio of the tubal resistance between two different air flow rates, was compared among three groups: 36 ears of children with otitis media with effusion (OME), 26 ears of adult OME patients, and 10 otherwise normal ears with traumatic perforations of the eardrum. Compared with normal subjects, OME children had a significantly higher TCI (P less than .005), whereas OME adults had a significantly lower TCI (P less than .05). From these results, we concluded that eustachian tubes are compliant in children with OME but rigid in adults with OME.     

Viscosity of effusion in the middle ear and eustachian tube in patients with otitis media with effusion

The viscosity of middle ear effusion (MEE) in the tympanic cavity and in the bony portion of the eustachian tube (ET) was compared in 11 specimens (10 patients) with otitis media with effusion (OME). Twenty microliters of effusion from the bony portion of the ET was sampled through myringotomy on the anterosuperior quadrant of the tympanic membrane with a micro-syringe with a curved needle. MEE in the hypotympanum was also sampled by separately puncturing the posteroinferior quadrant of the tympanic membrane. Using the microviscometer developed by one of the authors, the relative viscosity of these effusions were measured, and their natural logarithmic values were compared between the two sites mentioned above in each patient by obtaining their ratios (ET/ME). Effusion was found to have a significantly higher viscosity in the bony portion of the ET than in the hypotympanum (paired t-test: t = 3.859, p less than 0.01). In two patients with OME (serous mastoiditis) due to radiation to the temporal region, the ratios of the viscosity were comparatively small. On the other hand, excluding these two patients with serous mastoiditis mentioned above, the ratios were highest in two patients with a history of more than 60 days of hearing loss. These results were considered to be a clue to the possibility that viscous effusion aggravates ET function as a result of OME.     

Alternative treatment for otitis media with effusion: eustachian tube rehabilitation

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of eustachian tube rehabilitation (ETR) as treatment for otitis media with effusion (OME). Thirty-five children with persistent OME were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups: group I (isolated OME); group II (OME and atypical swallowing); group II (OME, habitual mouth breathing and atypical swallowing). All children underwent ETR. Otomicroscopy and tympanograms were performed before treatment, and at one and three months following ETR. Considering the overall patient population after ETR (one and three months later), the prevalence of type A tympanogram increased significantly compared to before therapy (p < 0.005), while the prevalence of type B tympanogram decreased significantly (p < 0.005). We found significant differences between pre- and both post-therapy control in groups I and II. However, children in group II experienced significant improvement of middle ear conditions only three months after the end of therapy (p < 0.005). On the basis of the physiopathologic knowledge of OME and the underlying principles of ETR, we conclude that ETR can be considered a useful therapy in management of OME.     

咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎治疗分析

目的探究咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎治疗效果。方法2016年12月~2020年2月,从本院收治的咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎患者中选择50例进行研究,回顾患者病例,以不同的治疗方案作为分组标准,将50例患者分为对照组、实验组,各25例。对照组只开展中耳乳突手术,实验组同期开展中耳乳突手术与咽鼓管球囊扩张术,对比两组听力改善效果、治疗效果、并发症发生率。结果实验组听力改善效果明显高于对照组,P<0.05;术后3个月、6个月实验组患者的EDTQ-7评分、听阈值均低于对照组,P<0.05;实验组并发症发生率低于对照组,P<0.05。结论在咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎患者行中耳乳突手术时,同期开展咽鼓管球囊扩张术,既能改善患者的听力状态,又能提升治疗效果,减少并发症,值得推荐。     

Immune status and eustachian tube function in recurrence of otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE: To study the combined role of immune status and eustachian tube function in the development of recurrent bilateral otitis media with effusion (OME). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three academic and general hospitals. PATIENTS: Children aged 2 to 7 years with a first clinical episode of bilateral OME that persisted for at least 3 months; 136 (81%) of 168 eligible children participated. All children received bilateral tympanostomy tubes at study entry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Recurrence of bilateral OME within 6 months after tube extrusion. RESULTS: Univariate analyses of various immunologic factors (IgA, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, mannose-binding lectin, and the FcgammaRIIa-H/R131 genotype) and eustachian tube function (forced response test) did not show any significant associations with bilateral OME recurrence. Multivariate analyses showed that children with closing pressures higher than the 75th percentile and IgA or IgG2 levels below the 50th percentile of the cohort were more likely to develop recurrent OME than children with closing pressures higher than the 75th percentile and IgA or IgG2 levels above the 50th percentile. The corresponding risk ratios were 6.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-40.1) for IgA level and 3.0 (95% CI, 1.1-8.2) for IgG2 level. The multivariate analyses also revealed that increasing serum levels of functional mannose-binding lectin were associated with decreasing probabilities of developing recurrent OME (odds ratio, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6-1.0). CONCLUSION: Recurrence of bilateral OME after tympanostomy tube placement is more likely in children with a combination of low IgA or low IgG2 levels with poor eustachian tube function and decreased levels of mannose-binding lectin.     

Endoscopic findings at the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube in otitis media with effusion

Transnasal endoscopy of the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube was performed on 155 ears with otitis media with effusion (77 ears of children, 78 ears of adults). In children, blockage of the orifice by mucopurulent nasal discharge was the most frequent finding (72.7%), followed by compression of the orifice by the adenoid tissue (52.0%), hypertrophy of the peritubal tonsil (16.9%), and edema around the orifice, especially at its posterior lip (10.4%). In adults, the most frequent abnormal finding was edema of the orifice (26.9%), followed by blockage of the orifice by mucopurulent nasal discharge (23.1 %), and atrophy of the orifice (10.3%). In 39.7% of cases findings were normal. Thus, main pathological findings associated with tubal dysfunction involved inflammation in the nasopharynx.     

咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎治疗分析

目的 探讨合并咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎病例的适宜手术方案。 方法 收集咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎病例68耳,分为观察组(28耳),同期行中耳乳突手术及咽鼓管球囊扩张术,对照组(40耳),仅行中耳乳突手术。术前,术后3个月、6个月、12个月分别以ETDQ-7评分、听阈、气骨导差进行对比。 结果 观察组术后6~12个月随访气导平均听力改善率为89%(25/28),干耳率93%(26/28)。对照组听力改善率为75%(30/40),干耳率95%(38/40)。观察组术后3~6个月EDDQ-7评分及听阈达到较明显缓解,但术后6~12个月上述指标有加重趋势。观察组及对照组术后听力均比术前听力提高,有统计学差异,两组的术后听力相对比,观察组优于对照组,有统计学意义。 结论 在咽鼓管功能障碍的慢性化脓性中耳炎患者中,中耳手术同期咽鼓管球囊扩张术较单纯中耳手术的听力改善率高,改善程度高,重新内陷率低,重新粘连率低,干耳率无明显差别。术后3~6个月患者咽鼓管相应症状达到较明显缓解,6~12个月症状有反复。     

Patulous eustachian tube following otitis media

Loss of weight, dehydration, pregnancy, fatigue, and otitis media are among the factors proposed as causes of a patulous eustachian tube, but true details remain obscure. We studied patients who developed a patulous eustachian tube following otitis media and discuss the relationship between these 2 conditions. Subjects were 12 patients diagnosed with otitis media at our department who later developed a patulous eustachian tube. The initial middle ear disease progressed from acute otitis media to otitis media with effusion in 2, acute otitis media in or acute mastoiditis in 1 each, and otitis media with effusion in the remaining 8 patients. Seven patients evidenced a low body mass index (BMI), weight loss, and underlying disease, but 5 with a patulous eustachian tube following otitis media did not. We retrospectively analyzed 119 patients diagnosed with a patulous eustachian tube in our department for whether they had been diagnosed by an ENT physician as having otitis media, i.e., acute otitis media or otitis media with effusion. Some 42 (35.3%) had a history of otitis media. At acute otitis media or otitis media with effusion, the tympanic cavity becomes inflamed, accompanied by inflammation of the eustachian tube mucosa and a stenotic tendency. Healing from otitis media is accompanied by decreased eustachian tube mucosa inflammation. We surmise that, depending on how inflammation disappears, fibrosis of the eustachian tube mucosa occurs, leading to a pathologically patulous eustachian tube. Many aspects of the causation of this condition remain unclear, but we surmised that in patients with earlier otitis media, a pathological patulous eustachian tube develops during resolution of inflammation. Our findings indicate the involvement of otitis media as a causative factors in a patulous eustacian tube.     

The evaluation of eustachian tube function in patients with chronic otitis media

In this study we evaluated eustachian tube function in patients with chronic otitis media and compared the results with normal subjects. Two different eustachian tube function tests were applied to 60 ears of the chronic otitis media group and 146 ears of the control group. While eustachian tube dysfunction was observed in 71.7% of the chronic suppurative otitis media group, it was only seen in 34.9% of the control group.     

并发咽鼓管阻塞的慢性化脓性中耳炎鼓室成形术的临床体会

自倡导鼓室成形术以来，我国中耳炎患者鼓室成形术后听力达到应用水平者达70％。但并发咽鼓管阻塞的慢性化脓性中耳炎仍被视为手术禁忌证。我们通过对并发咽鼓管阻塞的慢性化脓性中耳炎患者行鼓室成形术治疗，术后1～3个月鼓膜置管，听力提高显著，报道如下。     

咽鼓管球囊扩张术治疗慢性分泌性中耳炎的短期疗效观察

目的 观察咽鼓管球囊扩张术联合鼓膜切开置管治疗慢性分泌性中耳炎的短期疗效。 方法 对2014年8月至2016年12月诊断为慢性分泌性中耳炎并入院接受咽鼓管球囊扩张术联合鼓膜切开置管术治疗的19例21耳行短期疗效观察分析。评价的指标如下:纯音电测听气导均值(PTA)、气-骨导差(ABG)、声阻抗、耳内镜检查、颞骨CT扫描和主观满意度(VAS视觉模拟评分)。 结果 19例均于全麻下顺利完成手术,术后6个月鼓膜置管未脱落者予以取管。术后随访6~10个月,纯音电测听测试耳气导结果术后较术前有所提高。PTA从术前(59.5±21.5)dBHL降低到术后(52.0±31.0)dBHL(t=3.409, P=0.005), ABG从术前(35.5±17.5)dBHL降低到术后(21±16)dBHL(t=2.957,P=0.011), 76.19%的患者声阻抗鼓室图术后转为A型;3例5耳自觉听力和症状无明显改善,其中2例4耳鼓室积液持续存在,1例1耳取管后3周再次复发,予以持续置管。术后疗效满意度平均为(6.17±1.16)分。 结论 咽鼓管球囊扩张术联合鼓膜切开置管治疗慢性分泌性中耳炎短期疗效好。     

The eustachian tube lumen in chronic otitis media

The measurements of the size of the eustachian tube lumen, in its various regions, in adults are presented. The material consisted of serially sectioned eustachian tubes of 26 normal temporal bones and four pathologic temporal bones, three of them with simple chronic otitis media and one with cholesteatoma. These measurements reveal: (1) in adults (as in children) that there is a considerable variance of the eustachian tube lumen sizes corresponding to other variations in sizes of other organs; (2) no obstruction of the eustachian tube lumen was encountered in any of the pathologic specimens; and (3) there was no significant statistical difference between the lumen size of the eustachian tube retrieved from normal temporal bones compared with those from temporal bones with chronic otitis media.     

Update on functional anatomy and pathology of human eustachian tube related to otitis media with effusion

New anatomic and histopathologic information regarding the eustachian tube and its surrounding structure as well as possible mechanisms of opening and closing function and dysfunction are discussed in this article. In the past two decades, much light has been shed on the relationship between anomalies of the eustachian tube and the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion. Now that a technique for obtaining specimens for any histopathologic study that includes the temporal bone as well as the eustachian tube is available, it is hoped that, by harvesting and examining a large number of such specimens, more information will be gained about the relation between eustachian tube pathology and eustachian tube dysfunction, particularly as it relates to otitis media effusion. Only in this way can the clinical management of otitis media be improved.     

Mucociliary dysfunction in experimental otitis media with effusion

To investigate the morphologic changes of the eustachian tube mucociliary transport systems, experimental otitis media with effusion was induced by immune complex injection into the bullae of experimental animals. Horseradish peroxidase was chosen as an antigen because of its high antigenicity and traceability under light and electron microscopy. Seventy-three guinea pigs and 41 chinchillas were divided into three groups: active Arthus group, passive Arthus group, and control group. Animals were killed under general anesthesia from the first to 30th day after the injection. Within 5 days after injection, effusions were observed consistently in all animals, but in only 80 per cent on the 7th day and in only 50 per cent after the 10th day after injection. The most conspicuous findings were that the interciliary space of the mucociliary system was diffusely occupied by an electron-dense mucus, and the upper part of the ciliary shafts were tightly glued together. These features seem to indicate rheologic alterations of the mucus and a disorder of its coupling to the cilia. This study strongly suggests that the mucociliary coupling disorder caused by altered rheologic properties of the mucus causes clearance dysfunction of the eustachian tube, resulting in middle ear effusion. The various inflammatory products contained in the middle ear effusions elicit a persistent vicious cycle of inflammatory reactions in the tubotympanum.     

咽鼓管球囊扩张术治疗顽固性分泌性中耳炎的疗效评价

目的探讨咽鼓管球囊扩张术(balloon eustachian tuboplasty,BET)临床治疗效果。方法对2015年1月至2015年7月间,收治的57例(84耳)诊断为顽固性分泌性中耳炎并行咽鼓管球囊扩张术的患者进行术前,术后1,3,6,9和12月时的咽鼓管功能评分(eustachian tube score,ETS)的对比分析及同期咽鼓管功能问卷(eustachian tube dysfunc-tion questionnaire-7,ETDQ-7)调查,对其术前,术后1,3,6和12月进行得分均值比较。结果 ETS评分术前和术后对比,有统计学意义(P<0.05),术后6个月,ETS评分从术前0.5提高到3.0,术后3月为4.5,术后1月和12月均为5.0,术后的有效率为83.9%;ETDQ-7评分术前和术后对比都显著降低(P<0.05),术后6个月时由术前的4.50±1.07降至2.65±1.24,术后12月时为2.71±1.39,术后1月和3月为2.30±0.92,其中患者的主观有效率为84.3%。结论 BET在顽固性分泌性中耳炎患者治疗中,操作简易,安全有效,有效率大于80%。术后6个月症状改善趋于稳定。ETS评分和ETDQ-7评分方法值得在临床中应用,对于降低咽鼓管功能障碍在中耳手术的术后效果的影响有积极的意义。     

An experimental study of mucociliary pathology of the eustachian tube in otitis media with effusion induced by irradiation

We have examined the function and fine structure of the mucociliary system of the eustachian tube in an experimental study of otitis media with effusion induced by X-ray irradiation. Functional examination demonstrated that the ciliary activity was diminished in such a condition, while morphological observations showed pathological findings including compound cilia, vacuolation of ciliated cells and expansion of intercellular space. These findings show that irradiation-induced otitis media with effusion results in impairment of the mucociliary system. As evidenced by these studies, the mucociliary system in the eustachian tube has an important role in the clearance of fluid produced in the tympanic cavity as well as affording improvement in this disease.