Middle ear effusions in neonates

Suppurative middle ear effusions (MEE) have been shown to occur commonly in neonates. In spite of this, otoscopy is not routinely performed on septic infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU). This is clinically significant since unrecognized suppurative MEE may act as a focus for dissemination of bacteria into the circulation and/or central nervous system (CNS). We have completed a prospective study in an attempt to define the prevalence, bacteriology, and response to therapy of MEE in neonates. To facilitate this, the normal micro-otsocopic appearance of the newborn TM was established by systematically examining 50 normal infants under 24 hours old. MEE was present in 30% of 125 consecutively examined infants in the neonatal ICU. Bacteriologic data are drawn from tympanocentesis performed on 34 neonates. Nasotracheal intubation of longer than seven days is highly associated with suppurative MEE. Suppurative MEE in the neonatal ICU is often refactory to treatment and may require prolonged therapy and repeated tympanocentesis.     

Middle ear effusions after radiotherapy: correlation with pre-radiotherapy nasopharyngeal tumor patterns

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess whether pretreatment tumor patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can predict the status of the middle ear after radiation treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretreatment and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 32 patients (64 ears) who had radiation therapy for NPC. For the purpose of analysis, the ears were placed into their pre-radiation therapy tumor pattern groups and the presence of middle ear effusion (MEE) with regard to eustachian tube (ET) invasion or displacement was identified. RESULTS: MEEs were present in 31 (48.4%) ears after radiation therapy. All of the MEEs that resolved were in the preradiation therapy groups where tumor invasion of the eustachian tube was present irrespective of the amount of ET displacement. There was, however, no significant difference for resolved MEEs between ears with ET invasion or displacement (p = 0.32 and p = 0.71, respectively, Fisher's exact test). The MEEs occurred with significantly greater frequency in ears with minor ET displacement than in those with major ET displacement (p = 0.013, Fisher's exact test) as well as in previously normal ears compared with other groups (p = 0.008, Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSION: A pre-radiation therapy NPC tumor pattern was not found that clearly predicted the outcome of MEE after radiation treatment. The findings, however, suggest that approximately one third of MEEs in patients with invasion of ET or paratubal structures, irrespective of the amount of ET displacement, resolve after therapy. The MEEs that were present in ears with ET displacement and no invasion did not resolve despite reversal of the displacement after treatment, which suggests that ET position plays a less important role than invasion in the resolution of MEE. It is, however, difficult to be certain, because ears with invasion were invariably associated with ET displacement, and the contribution of radiation therapy to the development of MEE further complicates the issue.     

Microbiology of middle ear effusions from 292 patients undergoing tympanostomy tube placement for middle ear disease

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood illnesses. Ideally, culture directed therapy for otitis media would be available, however, the common approach is to treat infections with antibiotics that cover the most common pathogens. The objective of this study is to describe the pathogens cultured from the middle ear effusions (MEE) of patients that underwent tympanostomy tube placement for middle ear disease, compare these results with previous studies, and assess for trends suggestive of changes in the microbiology of these patients. METHODS: Patients were invited to participate after the decision to place ventilation tubes had been made. A standard anterior-inferior myringotomy was made for placement of the ventilation tube. After myringotomy, patients had their ears suctioned and all effusions were collected for microbiologic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 292 patients were enrolled in the study, a total of 270 MEE samples were taken. Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were seen in 24 of 148 (16.2%) and 15 of 148 (10.1%), respectively. Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium species were each identified in 11 of the 148 pathogens isolated (7.4%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 6 of the 148 isolated pathogens (4.1%). CONCLUSION: Despite a high number of non-pathogenic bacteria, and a high number of culture negative effusions, we demonstrated pathogen rates consistent with other reports in the literature. Future directions include using more specific techniques such as PCR to better understand the microbiology of middle ear effusions.     

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.     

A comparative analysis of endotracheal intubation in neonates, children and adults: complications, prevention and treatment

The use of endotracheal tube to provide a prolonged airway and as an adjunct to artificial ventilation continues to be a controversial subject. With this controversy in mind, a six-year survey was undertaken in utilizing three private hospitals to evaluate the number of patients requiring prolonged endotracheal intubation, their incidence of complication, and particularly to record the diagnosis for which this form of artificial airway was required. At the same time, primary and secondary tracheostomies were evaluated as to mortality, morbidity, and complications. There were 205 premature and newborns evaluated, with 108 of these neonates requiring endotracheal intubation for 48 hours or longer. The average duration was five and one-half days. There were 26 survivors of 108 infants with one serious complication, or an incidence of 4 percent. The incidence of mortality and morbidity for tracheostomy in the neonate is much higher than that of endotracheal intubation and intubation should be the method of choice. Over 500 children requiring intensive care were evaluated. Of these, 64 cases required endotracheal intubation of 24 hours or longer with 43 survivors. There was one death with a mortality of 1.4 percent. In evaluating the diagnoses requiring endotracheal intubation, it is statistically significant that those patients other than post-surgical or medically clean had an incidence of complication of 23 percent. There were over 1,200 adult patients who required some form of artificial ventilation with 454 requiring endotracheal intubation of 24 hours duration or longer. The average duration was 61 hours. Immediate and minor complications, such as cord granulomas, lacerations, laryngeal edema, etc., were not included. There were 11 adult complications which could be classified as serious with stenotic changes of the larynx or trachea. This gives an overall incidence of complication of 2.4 percent with no mortality. These statistics are better than those for tracheostomy; however, the severely anoxic, toxic, or infected patient was the one which had a significant incidence of complications. The suicide patient had an incidence of 17.5 percent, patients with pulmonary infection 12.3 percent, and the stroke patient, 5.6 percent. A comparative study of tracheostomies continues to indicate that there is a higher incidence of mortality and early complications in tracheostomy than endotracheal intubation; however, both endotracheal intubation and secondary tracheostomies following prolonged intubation show a much higher incidence of delayed complications. Treatment should be one of prevention with the proper choice of tube and cuff, more than just adequate nursing care with definite proper follow-up of those patients who have had prolonged intubation. Frequent use of endoscopy and indirect laryngoscopy in these patients is mandatory for early treatment of delayed complications. Once these complications have manifested themselves, then treatment should follow the course as prescribed by the various authors finding success in the treatment of these lesions.     

中耳胆固醇肉芽肿的诊断及治疗

目的:探讨中耳胆固醇肉芽肿的发病原因、诊断和接受中耳乳突手术治疗后的效果。方法:回顾性分析我院1999年8月～2004年4月接受中耳乳突手术治疗和经病理证实的18例(19耳)中耳胆固醇肉芽肿患者的临床资料,其中,接受完壁式乳突根治加鼓室探查加中耳置管术7耳,完壁式乳突根治加鼓室探查加听骨链成形加中耳置管术2耳,完壁式乳突根治加鼓室探查术3耳,完壁式乳突根治加鼓膜成形术2耳,开放式乳突根治加鼓室成形术4耳,单纯乳突切除术1耳。结果:置管者术后1～3个月拔除中耳通气管,鼓膜愈合良好;未置中耳通气管者,1～2个月鼓膜颜色正常。术后听力均有不同程度提高,纯音测听达到应用水平(语频气导平均听阈30dB以内)15耳(79%)。所有患者随访0.5～2年,除1耳因咽鼓管不通,长期留置中耳通气管外,其余患者无复发。结论:中耳胆固醇肉芽肿的病因为中耳炎症引起含气腔通气受阻,引流障碍及含气腔出血。确诊有赖于病理诊断。中耳乳突手术彻底去除病变,建立乳突鼓室咽鼓管良好的通气系统,是手术成功的关键。     

Surgical indications and outcomes of tympanostomy tube removal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors affecting perforation healing in children with surgical removal of retained tympanostomy tubes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 82 pediatric patients (111 ears) who underwent surgical tube removal at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from 1/1/1999 to 12/31/2001. Patients included 47 males and 35 females with an age range of 2-15 years (average age, 6.8 years and median, 6 years). The length of intubation ranged from 12 months to 108 months (average, 44.6 months). The indications for removal included: prolonged intubation (61.3%), otorrhea or recurrent infection (21.6%), obstruction (7.2%), tube in middle ear (6.3%), enlarging perforation (2.7%), and in preparation for future cochlear implant surgery (9.9%). Interventions included removal of tympanostomy tubes and techniques for encouraging perforation closure. Seventy-six percent of the ears had a technique used to encourage healing. These techniques included freshen edges (11.8%), Gelfoam or Gelfilm (14.1%), Gelfoam and/or Gelfilm with freshened edges (50.6%). The main outcome measure was perforation healing. Chi-square statistical analysis were used to determine the statistical significant of observations. RESULTS: Overall closure rate for all patients available for follow up was 87.0%, regardless of technique used to encourage healing. There was no statistically significant difference between the average intubation time in ears that healed (44 months), versus those with persistent perforation after removal (42 months). There was no statistical significant difference in closure rate based on patient age. When tubes were removed for prolonged intubation, 87.0% closed. If the indication was otorrhea or recurrent infections, 93.0% healed. CONCLUSIONS: The overwhelming majority of patients who undergo surgical removal of tubes will show complete tympanic membrane healing independent of technique at time of removal, duration of intubation, patient age, or indication for removal.     

Optimizing effectiveness of laser tympanic membrane fenestration in chronic otitis media with effusion. Clinical and technical considerations

OBJECTIVE: To describe the patient, disease and clinical characteristics that optimize the effectiveness of laser tympanic membrane fenestration (LTMF) to treat chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). SETTING: Four pediatric otolaryngology tertiary referral centers. IRB approved; participation by informed consent. METHODS: An observational clinical effectiveness trial was conducted in 164 ears (94 children), who had chronic OME. All patients were candidates for insertion of pressure equalization tubes (PETs) but agreed to undergo LTMF instead. Clinical and audiologic follow-up are reported at 90 days after LTMF. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical effectiveness was defined as an effusion free middle ear at otoscopy with A or C1 tympanogram and normal hearing. RESULTS: At 90 days, 66% of the 95 evaluable ears were effusion free, all with normal hearing. Children younger than 4 years (P<0.04), who had shorter durations of effusion (P<0.009), and who experienced longer duration of fenestration patency (FP) (P<0.009) correlated to improved outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of LTMF to create 2--3 weeks of middle ear ventilation in patients with chronic OME (middle ear effusion (MEE) for 3 months or greater) is effective in 66% of 95 (58%) of ears evaluable at 90 days follow-up. This study provides basic information needed to optimize the use of LTMF today and enhance research efforts in the future.     

内毒素含量与分泌性中耳炎复发关系的研究

目的探讨中耳积液中的内毒素含量与分泌性中耳炎(SOM)复发的关系。方法用鲎珠溶解物凝胶反应法对66名SOM患者共88份中耳积液进行内毒素含量的动态检测。结果内毒素检测阳性率和浓度在小于14岁组的SOM患者(分别为77.2%和402±22.24EU/ml)明显高于大于15岁组SOM患者(分别为18.9%和23±5.98EU/ml);粘液性积液的SOM患者的内毒素检测阳性率和浓度(分别为68.1%和387±23.32EU/ml)高于浆液性积液的SOM患者(分别为21.1%和37±11.35EU/ml),P值均<0.05。88耳SOM经鼓膜穿刺治疗后51耳复发,复发组的内毒素含量明显高于痊愈组(P<0.05),且第2次复发的SOM患者的内毒素含量更高。结论内毒素在SOM,特别是在复发性SOM和儿童粘液型SOM病程中起重要作用。     

Efficacy of acoustic otoscope in detecting middle ear effusion in children

The sensitivity and specificity of the acoustic otoscope in detecting middle ear effusion (MEE) was determined for 200 children. Based upon results from otoscopy, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, and myringotomy, 100 of the children (175 ears) had MEE. The remaining 100 (200 ears) had no MEE. Using acoustic otoscope reflectivity (AOR) units 4 through 9 to indicate pathologic ears, its sensitivity and specificity were found to be 93.14% and 83%, respectively. These findings led to the conclusion that the acoustic otoscope may provide a simple and cost-effective way of detecting MEE in children. Suggestions are provided for improving the effectiveness of this new device as a clinical tool.     

Office myringotomy for acute otitis media: Its value in preventing middle ear effusion

Middle ear effusion (MEE) as a residual of treated acute otitis media was found in 49% of 776 children studied. No antibiotic, singly or in combination, demonstrated superiority in reducing the incidence of MEE. Simple myringotomy, as a therapeutic modality in 415 children who presented with an acutely bulging painful eardrum, did not facilitate adequate drainage as 51% of such children, treated with simple myringotomy in addition to antibiotics, had MEE detected 10 days later. The incidence of MEE also occurred independently of the middle ear pathogen. Within six weeks, spontaneous resolution of the effusion occurred in 85% of the 382 children with MEE that was detected 10 days after acute otitis media.     

Otoacoustic emissions and tympanometry in children with otitis media

OBJECTIVE: To examine otoacoustic emission and tympanometric findings in children with surgically confirmed middle ear effusion (MEE). DESIGN: A total of 102 children aged 0.7 to 11.4 yr undergoing surgery because of otitis media were included in the study. A tympanometric examination and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) measurement were performed on each ear before myringotomy. MEE was aspirated, weighed and classified as mucoid or nonmucoid. TEOAE measurements were compared with the quantity and quality of MEE and to the tympanometric findings. RESULTS: Fifty (72%) ears out of the 65 ears containing effusion showed reduced TEOAE. The quantity of effusion was associated significantly (p < 0.001) with the TEOAE responses, and mucoid effusion reduced the emissions more than nonmucoid. The sensitivity of tympanometry in identifying the ears without recordable TEOAE was 73% and the specificity 81%. CONCLUSION: MEE results in a significant reduction in TEOAEs even when the effusion is nonmucoid. This suggests that transmission of acoustic energy to and from the middle ear is altered in children experiencing any form of otitis media with effusion.     

Otitis media with effusion: treatment by autoinflammation using a balloon

Resolution of negative middle ear pressure is important in treating otitis media with effusion (OME). We treated 34 children and 21 adults with OME by autoinflammation using a nose tube and balloon in the 16 months from June 2001 to September 2002. Of these, 7 children and 5 adults had been treated for 3 years or longer, and had had grommets inserted. In 49 ears of 27 early cases of children, 34 ears (69%) improved in tympanometric findings converting to type A from type B, C2 and C5, and 9 ears (18%) of type B converted to type C1. In 23 ears of 16 early cases of adults, 12 ears (52%) improved converting to type A from type B, C2, C5 and C1, and 3 ears (13%) to type C1 from type B. However, 4 ears of 4 children and 5 ears of 5 adults did not recover by autoinflammation. In 7 children with prolonged OME in whom grommets had been inserted, 5 recovered due to autoinflammation, whereas only one of 5 adults recovered. Of 6 patients who had not recovered, 2 were associated with asthma and nasal polyposis and eosinophils infiltrated into the middle ear effusion. In other 2 patients, even when the middle ear effusion disappeared by grommets insertion, they had still dysfunction of the Eustachian tubes confirmed by sonotubometric examination. It seems no beneficial effects of autoinflammation were maintained if patients had tubal dysfunction due to intensive inflammatory changes of the middle ear and tubal mucosa or other unknown origin. Two patients used the device irregularly and rarely. There is a theoretical risk associated with this maneuver of causing baroinjury and forcing infected nasopharyngeal secretions into the middle ear, but we found no complications.     

Secretory antibodies specific to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Branhamella catarrhalis in middle ear effusion during acute otitis media

The occurrence of specific secretory antibodies against the type-specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn) and against the whole cell antigen of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) and Branhamella catarrhalis (Br) were measured by the ELISA method in 211 middle ear effusion (MEE) samples of 85 children with acute otitis media (AOM) during the course of the disease. Antibodies against at least one of those bacteria were detected at the initial visit in 33.6% of the ears and later in 20%. All in all, such antibodies could be found in 50% of the ears during the follow-up. Pneumococcal secretory antibodies were found in 5 out of 116 ears only, anti-Hi antibodies in 52 and anti-Br antibodies in 42 ears. The specific secretory antibodies were detected against all these bacteria regardless of the bacterial etiology of the AOM attack in question. The AOM attack was prolonged more often if such antibodies were not found in the MEE sample taken at the initial visit. The appearance of such antibodies during the disease seemed to imply termination of the AOM episode in question. The conclusions of this study are that during an AOM attack a local production of antibodies in middle ear against the three most common bacteria. Pn, Hi and/or Br, causing AOM may be induced. The appearance of such antibodies in MEE seems to be beneficial for the resolution of AOM.     

Effects of ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone on myringotomy wound healing

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone (CDX) combination ototopical treatment after myringotomy on tympanic membrane (TM) healing in ears with eustachian tube obstruction (ETO) and unobstructed ears. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, masked, controlled. METHODS: ETO was created in the left ear of 30 rats to induce a model of otitis media with effusion (OME). After 3 weeks, bilateral myringotomy was performed (day 0). Animals were randomized into three groups to receive no treatment or bilateral once daily ototopical treatment with balanced salt solution (BSS, vehicle) or CDX for 13 days. Bilateral otomicroscopy was performed on days 7, 14, and 28. On day 14, five randomly selected animals per group were humanely euthanized and the TM harvested for histology. Three additional rats provided normal negative control ears for histologic comparisons. RESULTS: On day 14, TM perforation healing rates were 100% in all ears of untreated and BSS-treated animals, 89% (8/9) in CDX-treated obstructed ears, and 30% (3/10) in CDX-treated unobstructed ears (P < .05 vs. BSS). On day 28, 100% (5/5) of the CDX-treated unobstructed ears and 80% (4/5) of the CDX-treated obstructed ears were healed. Histology showed initial TM thickening postmyringotomy in all ears but no significant qualitative differences between groups on day 28. CONCLUSION: Myringotomy healing was transiently modulated by treatment with CDX but proceeded normally after CDX discontinuation. This early modulation might enhance middle ear drainage and middle ear concentrations of CDX when tympanostomy tube surgery is performed in patients with active OME and ETO, thus potentially reducing otorrhea and preventing or treating infection. It would not be expected to increase the risk of premature tube extrusion or adversely affect normal healing of the TM after usual spontaneous extrusion.     

分泌性中耳炎中耳积液中P物质含量与临床相关性研究

目的：探讨分泌性中耳炎（SOM）中耳积液（MEE）中P物质（SP）含量与临床的相关性。方法：观察64例（79耳）SOM患者的病程、听力、MEE量、MEE性质及其与MEE中的SP含量的关系。结果：浆液性MEE中SP的浓度比黏液性者明显增高（P〈0．01）;MEE中的SP含量与MEE量呈正相关（r=0．985,P〈0．01）,与发病时间呈负相关（r=-0．6217,P〈0．01）;听力损失黏液组明显多于浆液组;浆液组MEE中SP含量与听阈呈正相关（r=0．985,P〈0．01）,黏液组MEE中SP含量与听阈无显著性相关（r=0．2415,P〉0．05）。结论：①SP在SOM的发病中影响了病程的全过程,但在早期起主要作用。②检测SOMMEE中SP含量对于判断MEE的性质,了解病情的发展,指导临床治疗有一定的意义。     

鼓膜置管治疗鼻咽癌放疗后分泌性中耳炎疗效观察

目的:探讨鼓膜置管对鼻咽癌(NPC)放疗后的分泌性中耳炎(SOM)的疗效。方法:对32例(51耳) NPC放疗后经鼓膜切开抽液冲洗治疗无效的SOM患者进行鼓膜置管和随访,对治疗耳的咽鼓管功能、听力及其 他症状的改变进行评估。结果:随访6个月～5年,治愈8耳,治愈率为15.7%,有效41耳,总有效率为96.1%。 7耳(13.7%)咽鼓管功能好转,所有重复置管耳的耳功能均得到不同程度的改善。置管后耳漏发生率为25.5%, 鼓膜穿孔发生率为9.8%。结论:鼓膜置管治疗SOM有利于咽鼓管功能的恢复,对于咽鼓管功能已经严重损害 的患耳,重复鼓膜置管是维持耳功能的可靠手段;鼓膜置管的并发症利大于弊。     

Experimental otitis media with effusion induced by leukotriene D4

OBJECTIVE: inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins (PGs), leukotrienes (LTs), and platelet-activating factor (PAF) have been identified in human middle ear effusions (MEEs), as well as in the experimentally induced MEEs of animals. However, the exact function of LTs in the middle ear cavity is still unknown. In this study, the role of LTs was investigated using an experimental model in which OME was induced by LTD4. METHODS: to examine whether leukotrienes (LTs) induce otitis media with effusion (OME), 2x10(-6), 2x10(-5), 1x10(-4) and 2x10(-4) M of LTD4 was injected into the rat ear. The severity of OME was assessed based on the histological findings. The concentrations of IL1-beta, TNF-alpha, and GRO/CINC-1 in MEE were also measured. Additionally the therapeutic efficacy of a specific LTs antagonist, pranlukast on experimental OME was investigated. RESULTS: all ears developed middle ear effusion (MEE) within 24 h and about 50% of the animals continued to demonstrate MEE for 14 days in the 1x10(-4) and 2x10(-4) M groups. The cytokine levels seemed to correspond well with the persistence of OME. The oral administration of a specific LTs antagonist, pranlukast, was found to alleviate the experimental OME. CONCLUSION: these findings suggest that LTs appear to plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OME.     

Nonsurgical home treatment of middle ear effusion and associated hearing loss in children. Part II: Validation study

In this prospective follow-up investigation, we examined the efficacy of a modified Politzer device in the home treatment of persistent middle ear effusion (MEE) and associated hearing loss in children who had previously participated in a similar clinical trial. Our study group was made up of 38 patients who had been either (1) untreated control participants in the previous study whose hearing in one or both ears had not returned to normal within 11 weeks of their initial audiologic pretest ("former control group"; n = 30), or (2) active-treatment participants in the previous study whose hearing sensitivity in at least one ear had not improved to within normal limits after treatment and who elected to undergo a continuation of treatment ("extended-treatment group"; n = 8). Treatment efficacy was determined by comparing differences in pre- and posttreatment air-conduction thresholds and otoscopic findings. Following treatment, the former control group experienced significant improvements in hearing sensitivity at all frequencies; at the posttreatment test, hearing sensitivity was within normal limits in 43 of 60 ears (71.7%), and normal or moderate tympanic membrane mobility was observed in 30 of 34 otoscopically examined ears (88.2%). In the extended-treatment group, hearing sensitivity returned to within normal limits in 9 of 10 impaired ears (90.0%). These findings further substantiate the efficacy of our modified Politzer device in improving middle ear function and hearing sensitivity in children with MEE, and they support the reliability of the findings reported in our previous study. These results also indicate that many patients in whom initial treatment is not successful may benefit from extended treatment.     

Negative middle ear pressure and otitis media with effusion after surgery under general anesthesia

Abstract Conclusion: Negative middle ear pressure was observed in many patients and otitis media with effusion (OME) developed in 3.3% of ears after surgery under general anesthesia. Gas dynamics in the middle ear cavity induced by nitrous oxide inhalation anesthesia and transient blockage of the eustachian tube induced by surgery are considered to be involved in development of OME after surgery under general anesthesia. Objectives: The goal of this prospective study was to investigate middle ear pressure and the prevalence of middle ear effusion in patients after surgery under general anesthesia, to ascertain whether surgery under general anesthesia induces OME. Methods: Otoscopic inspection and tympanometry were performed before surgery (Pre), 1-2 days after surgery (Post-1), and 5-9 days after surgery (Post-2) under general anesthesia in 180 ears of 97 adult patients. Results: Effusion accumulated in the tympanum in six ears (3.3%) of five patients at Post-1. All patients were anesthetized with nitrous oxide. At Post-2, effusion disappeared in all cases. The mean middle ear pressure in all ears was -17.8 daPa at Pre and -60.6 daPa at Post-1, showing a significant reduction from Pre to Post-1 (p < 0.001). At Post-2, the pressure was -18.4 daPa, with no significant difference from that at Pre (p = 0.74).