试析Toynbee现象与中耳压力的关系

采用声管测定法，声阻抗测定法和鼻咽压力测定法，研究在Ｔｏｙｎｂｅｅ试验时叶耳压力，咽鼓管开放时程和鼻咽和时程三者间的关系，同时，测定 腔填塞前后鼓室 力的变化，并用糖精法测定鼓膜穿孔者于鼻腔填塞前后的粘膜纤毛运动情况。     

Direct measurement of middle ear pressure through the eustachian tube

Summary We report a method for measuring middle ear pressure through the eustachian tube. We used a 1-mm-diameter micro-tip catheter pressure transducer (Mikro-tip) and inserted this into the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube. In preliminary studies, we measured four normal ears, two ears with tubal dysfunction, one ear with a dry perforation and 13 ears with otitis media with effusion (OME). Among those ears with OME, three showed negative middle ear pressure, three slight positive pressure and one normal pressure. These findings suggest that our transtubal method is reliable and useful for measuring middle ear pressure.     

腭裂对中耳传音和咽鼓管功能的影响

目的：了解腭裂对中耳传音和咽鼓管功能的影响及其影响的程度。方法：对４１例腭裂患者进行耳科学常规检查、咽鼓管咽口形态观察、声导抗测试,并与听力正常人进行对照。结果：腭裂患者中鼓膜病变率达８９．０％,咽鼓管咽口呈裂隙状形态达５９．５％,鼓室压图异常达８３．１％,镫骨肌反射消失率达８４．４％,与正常人对照,有极显著性差异。腭裂患者并发分泌性中耳炎的比率为７４．０％。结论：由于腭裂患者存在鼻另碚的易感染性     

Reflux of nasopharyngeal content into middle ear through the eustachian tube

Whether nasopharyngeal content passes into the middle ear in patients without any head and neck pathology during the recovery phase of anesthesia is shown with an objective and prospective method. Thirty-eight patients, 21 female and 17 male, aged between 17 and 76, were included in the study. During the recovery phase of general anesthesia, 10 ml of 5 mCi Tc-99m-MAA was administered intranasally to the patients with a 10-F catheter. A manometer-adapted cuffed intubation tube was placed in the nasal passage so that the cuff was located at the choana. The pressure changes reflecting to the nasopharynx were recorded. The patients were extubated 10 min after the radionuclide was applied. The scintigraphic evaluation was done at the end of the 1st hour of the application of radionuclide. Transmission and emission views were taken with a gamma camera. Passage of nasopharyngeal content into the middle ear via the eustachian tube was not a statistically significant observation. The mean value of maximum pressure reflecting from the nasopharynx did not differ significantly between patients. Our study does not support the hypothesis that nasopharyngeal content passes directly through the eustachian tube into the middle ear and causes deleterious effects.     

Otoacoustic emissions at compensated middle ear pressure in children

Middle ear pathology has a negative effect on the detectability of otoacoustic emissions.

In this study, we investigated the effect of compensating a deviant static middle ear pressure while measuring transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). In 59 children (mean age 4 years, 5 months) TEOAEs were measured twice in one session: first at ambient pressure and than at compensated middle ear pressure.

On average, TEOAE amplitudes increased by 1.9 dB as a result of middle ear pressure compensation. The amplitude increase was largest in frequency bands centred at 1 and 2 kHz and a statistically significant correlation was found between the amount of compensated pressure and the TEOAE amplitude increase. In the higher frequency bands centred at 3 and 4 kHz, TEOAE amplitudes were almost insensitive to pressure compensation.

These results show that measuring OAEs at compensated middle ear pressure enhances the amplitude of TEOAEs, and thus improves the detectability.     

中耳胆脂瘤手术同期行咽鼓管球囊扩张的临床观察

目的评价改良完壁式乳突根治加鼓室成形术同期行咽鼓管球囊扩张治疗中耳胆脂瘤并咽鼓管功能障碍的临床疗效。方法选取中耳胆脂瘤并咽鼓管功能障碍患者共64例,所有患者术前通过正负压平衡试验、鼓室滴药、Valsalva动作难易程度评分均证实为咽鼓管功能障碍。将患者随机分为对照组和观察组,其中对照组36例,观察组28例,对照组改良完壁式乳突根治加鼓室成形术,观察组行改良完壁式乳突根治加鼓室成形术并同期咽鼓管球囊扩张,记录两组术前及术后咽鼓管功能问卷评分（ETDQ 7）、干耳时间、纯音电测听及鼓室导抗图检查结果,比较两组患者的治疗效果。结果所有患者成功接受手术,术后随访6个月至1年,术前ETDQ 7评分、Valsalva测试、正负压平衡试验及纯音电测听（4PTA）对照组和观察组无统计学差异（P>0.05）;术后6个月对照组和观察组ETDQ 7评分、纯音测听（4PTA）阈值均较术前明显降低（P<0.05）;术后6个月对照组和观察组ETDQ 7评分、纯音测听（4PTA）阈值、鼓室导抗图、鼓膜内陷征象及干耳时间两组对比差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。结论咽鼓管功能不良是中耳胆脂瘤的一个重要因素,小样本随访发现改良完壁式乳突根治加鼓室成形术同期咽鼓管球囊扩张治疗中耳胆脂瘤并咽鼓管功能障碍的短期效果良好,但其远期疗效有待对更大样本进一步观察。     

Abnormal middle ear pressures during experimental influenza A virus infection--role of Eustachian tube function

Introduction: Experimental infection of adults with influenza A virus, rhinovirus or RSV causes abnormal ME pressure in some, but not all subjects. The hypothesis tested in this study is that the response variability is caused by constitutional differences in the functioning of the Eustachian tube. Methods: 18 adult subjects were experimentally infected with influenza A virus. On five occasions before virus exposure, middle ear pressure (by tympanometry) and Eustachian tube function (by sonotubometry) were recorded bilaterally. Tests were repeated on days 1 through 8 and 10 after infection. Individual ears were classified with respect to the number of pre-exposure, positive sonotubometric testings and the middle ear pressure response to infection was compared between ears with Eustachian tube openings at all pre-infection test sessions (GR-A) and those with at least one negative test (GR-B). Results: Pre-exposure, 19, six, four, four, one and two ears had tubal openings on five, four, three, two, one and zero sessions, respectively. For that period, GR-A had significantly lesser average intra-ear and intra-group middle ear pressure variances compared to GR-B, but there were no between-group differences in the average middle ear pressure or in the number of observations of abnormal middle ear pressure. After virus exposure, middle ear pressure variances and the number of abnormal observations increased and the average pressure decreased in both groups, but the effects were more pronounced for GR-B ears. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that pre-existing good Eustachian tube function reduces the otological complications of viral upper respiratory tract infection.     

Visualization of the middle ear with high resolution computed tomography and superfine fiberoptic videomicroendoscopy

Ten temporal bone blocks were dissected from fresh postmortem specimens from patients succumbing to diseases unrelated to the ears. A superfine fiberoptic videomicroendoscope (SFV) was introduced through the eustachian tube into the middle ear, and middle ear structures were visualized. The cadaver temporal bone blocks were also studied with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). When HRCT gave good results SFV did not succeed well and vice versa. However, SFV provided topographic anatomical information of the middle ear structures while HRCT gave cross-sectional images of the anatomy of the tympanic cavity. The different types of information obtained by the two imaging technologies supplement each other and were found to improve diagnosis in such cases as external ear canal atresia. Received: 22 July 1997 / Accepted: 28 October 1997     

Seasonal allergic rhinitis and its effects on Eustachian tube function and middle ear pressure

Middle ear pressure was recorded from 396 ears and aural symptoms enquired of 198 adult subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Evidence of Eustachian tube dysfunction was found in 24% of subjects. Increased duration of exposure to pollen over a further 2 weeks increased the incidence of Eustachian tube dysfunction to 48%. The development of Eustachian tube dysfunction did not correlate with the severity of nasal symptoms.     

The relationship between middle ear pressure and deviated nasal septum

The deviated nasal septum may be associated with middle ear problems, particularly on the side of nasal obstruction. This study aims to find out whether middle ear pressure (MEP) correlates with the degree of nasal obstruction secondary to a deviated nasal septum, and to examine changes in MEP following septal surgery. Patencies of the nasal passages (measured with a peak nasal inspiratory flowmeter) and MEP (measured with tympanometer) of 55 patients were obtained prior to surgery and 7.5 (6–10) months post-operatively [median (range)]. Forty patients completed the study. Results were analysed by linear regression. In the ear on the side of nasal blockage, MEP was -25.7±28.4 mm water pre-operatively, and following surgery increased significantly to -2.9±30.4 mm water (mean±sd ) (P < 0.001). Pre-operatively, it was inversely related to the difference in patencies between the two nasal passages (r = -0.32, P < 0.02). Post-operatively, its improvement correlated with the degree of reduction of asymmetry of airway patency (r = 0.56, P < 0.001).     

Significance of tubal resection in surgical treatment of middle ear carcinoma

We successfully carried out total en bloc resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the middle ear in two patients. Both patients have been free of the disease for 32–39 months. In one of the cases, the eustachian tube was resected totally with the temporal bone. Postoperative histopathological examination proved tumor invasion into the cartilaginous part of the tube. We would like to emphasize the significance of total resection of the eustachian tube when neoplastic invasion into the tube is highly suspected. Axial computed tomography is of great value for preoperative evaluation of such invasion. Anterior mobilization of the carotid artery from the carotid canal facilitates resection of the petrous apex and should be done after management of the eustachian tube. The carotid canal is best exposed ventrally, since lateral exposure is at high risk for injuring the bony part of the eustachian tube and may possibly disseminate tumor cells.     

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。     

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     

Effects of desflurane on middle ear pressure

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of desflurane on middle ear pressure. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical study. METHODS: In this study, 38 ears of 19 male children that were scheduled for circumcision were included. Baseline tympanometry reading was performed on each ear just before anesthesia. After induction anesthesia with propofol a laryngeal mask was applied and desflurane administration was started. The next tympanometry reading was taken at 5th, 10th and 15th minute after administration and at the 10th minute after the cessation of desflurane. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Mean MEP values before anesthesia in 38 ears of 19 boys were -10.32+/-33.14. After starting the administration of desflurane 5th minute mean value was 71.15+/-60.42, at the 10 th minute 111.56+/-59.03 and at the 15th minute it increased to 120.50+/-54.14, and these measurements were significantly higher than the starting value (p<0.001). After cessation of desflurane mean MEP value dropped to 57.56+/-79.06, but compared with the starting value this was also significantly higher (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Desflurane may increase the middle ear pressure and it may be unsuitable for certain middle ear surgeries.     

Long-term middle ear pressure measurements in inner ear disorders

Conclusion This is a suitable model for studying different aspects of the pathophysiology of chronic suppurative otitis media. Objective To analyze the methodological features of an animal model of chronic suppurative otitis media induced by intratympanic inoculation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Material and methods Otitis media was induced by inoculation of P. aeruginosa through the inferior aspect of the rat bulla and cauterization of the Eustachian tube via a transpalatal approach. Inspection of the tympanic membrane, culturing of middle ear effusion and processing of the temporal bones for light microscopy were performed. Results Abnormal otomicroscopic findings and persistence of infection were correlated with the histopathological changes found in middle ear tissues.     

Test-retest variability of eustachian tube responses in children with persistent middle ear effusion

Summary In our previous studies on eustachian tube function in children with middle ear effusion, we found that many ears were evacuated by the act of sniffing. When subjects were tested repeatedly, however, responses to sniffing were very variable. In order to study the spontaneous variability, a total of 51 subjects (81 ears) were retested. The results of the retest were very similar to those of the first test when all the ears were considered as a group. However, in individual ears pronounced variability was seen. In the sniff test, responses changed qualitatively in 30% of the ears, and in 27% of the ears there was a change in the ability to equalize pressure by swallowing. Thus, the results of the group were highly reproducible, while at the same time individual results were highly variable with time.     

The influence of middle ear pressure on the otolith system in cats

Summary The influence of varying middle ear pressure on the otolith system was investigated in anesthetized cats. Extra-axonal recordings of action potentials were performed in the vestibular nerve fibers and in the neurons in the lateral vestibular nucleus that responded to lateral or anteroposterior steadystate tilt. Positive or negative pressure was applied to the ipsilateral middle ear during the recordings. Seventy-three percent of the fibers and 63% of the neurons responded to changes in the middle ear pressure. These response rates were higher than those previously reported on the units innervating semicircular canals. Findings suggest that the otolith organs are more sensitive to changes in the middle ear pressure than are the semicircular canals. The units responding to lateral tilt were more sensitive to middle ear pressure than those that responded to anteroposterior tilt. Displacement of endolymph caused by pressure changes in the middle ear was considered to have affected the activities of hair cells in otolith organs.     

Balloon dilation of Eustachian tube combined with tympanostomy tube insertion and middle ear pressure equalization therapy for recurrent secretory otitis media

ObjectiveTo report outcomes of balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty combined with tympanostomy tube insertion and middle ear pressure equalization therapy in treatment of recurrent secretory otitis media.MethodsFifty one patients with recurrent secretory otitis media (62 ears) underwent balloon dilation of Eustachian tube and tympanic tube insertion under general anesthesia, followed by long term middle ear pressure equalization therapies. The Eustachian tube score (ETS) and Eustachian tube function questionnaire (ETDQ-7) were used for pre- and postoperative (up to 12 months) evaluation of Eustachian tube functions.ResultsThe mean ETS score was 2.34 ± 0.97 preoperatively, and 6.17 ± 1.54, 7.23 ± 1.62, 8.24 ± 1.97, and 7.63 ± 1.86 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (P < 0.05). The ETDQ-7 score was 4.82 ± 1.07 preoperatively, and 2.20 ± 0.54, 2.32 ± 0.68, 2.53 ± 0.79, and 2.67 ± 0.76 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (P < 0.05).ConclusionBalloon dilation of Eustachian tube combined with tympanostomy and catheterization resulted in significant improvement of subjective symptoms and objective evaluation of Eustachian tube functions in most patients with recurrent secretory otitis media, as indicated by the ETS and ETDQ-7 scores, demonstrating high levels of efficacy and patient satisfaction.     

腭裂与中耳功能障碍的相关性

目的：探讨腭裂手术对患者中耳功能的影响,为早期改善患者中耳功能提供依据。方法：对112例(224耳)腭裂患者进行年龄分组,采用声导抗、纯音测听或听性脑干反应检查。65例腭裂伴分泌性中耳炎患者在作腭裂修复术的同时,行鼓室置管术,术前术后作听力学检测,术前对鼓室分泌物作细菌培养。结果：腭裂患者常伴有不同程度的中耳功能障碍,腭裂修复术能明显改善患者中耳功能(P＜0.05)。鼓室分泌物Ｇ+、Ｇ-细菌培养阳性率为22.86%、23.53%,且多为低毒性条件致病菌。结论：腭裂患者常有中耳功能障碍,应重视其早期预防与治疗,早期修复腭裂有助于咽鼓管功能恢复。