Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T21:49:13.195Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Value of middle ear inflation as a diagnostic indicator of eustachian tube patency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

M. Luntz  and
J. Sadé
M. Luntz
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
J. Sadé*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
*
Prof. J. Sadé Meir HospitalKfar Saba 44281Israel
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The value of tubal inflation as a diagnostic procedure for Eustachian tube patency and function is controversial. In an attempt to assess the diagnostic value of air douche in atelectatic ears, 49 such ears of 40 patients were politzerized. The procedure was successful in 45 ears. However, of the four unsuccessful cases, two of the patients were able to autoinflate their ears. These results show that air douches pass regularly through the Eustachian tube into the tympanic cavity even in atelectatic ears, which by definition suffer from aeration deficiency, which is often considered to be secondary to ‘Eustachian tube obstruction’, or alternatively ‘Eustachian tube dysfunction’. Thus, the ability to force air through the Eustachian tube by politzerization is of no diagnostic value as an indicator of normal or abnormal tubal patency or functioning in atelectatic ears and most probably in allied conditions.

Type
Short Communication
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 104 , Issue 2 , February 1990 , pp. 134 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andreasson, L. (1976) Correlation of tubal function and volume of mastoid and middle ear space as related to otitis media. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 85: 198–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Andreasson, L., Harris, S. (1978) Tympanoplasty and Eustachian tube function. Clinical Otolaryngology, 3: 421–430.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bluestone, C. D., Stool, S. E. (eds.) (1983) Pediatric Otolaryngology. Philadelphia, London, Toronto, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, W. B. Saunders, p. 377Google Scholar
Buckingham, R. A., Ferrer, J. L. (1966) Reversibility of chronic adhesive otitis media with polyethylene tube, middle ear air vent, kodachrome time lapse study. Laryngoscope, 76: 993–1014.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodhill, V. (ed.) (1979) Ear diseases, deafness and dizziness. Hagerstown, New York, San Francisco, London, Harper and Row. p. 92–94.Google Scholar
Jackson, C., Jackson, C. L. (1959) Diseases of the nose, throat and ear. Philadelphia, London, W. B. Saunders. pp. 360–364.Google Scholar
Luntz, M., Sadé, J. (1988) Diurnal fluctuations of middle ear pressure in atelectatic ears. Acta Otolaryngologica, 105: 533–536.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Politzer, A. (1903) Diseases of the ear. Philadelphia, New York, Lea Brothers, pp. 78–116.Google Scholar
Paparella, M. M., Shumrick, D. A. (eds.) (1980) Otolaryngology, Philadelphia, London, Toronto, W. B. Saunders. Vol. 2, pp. 1406–1409.Google Scholar
Sadé, J. (1974) The biopathology of secretory otitis media. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology (Supplement 11) 83: 59–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sadé, J., Avraham, S., Brown, M. (1982) Dynamics of atelectasis and retraction pockets, in Sadé J. (ed) Cholesteatoma and Mastoid Surgery. Amsterdam, Kugler. pp. 267–281.Google Scholar
Sadé, J., Luntz, M., Yaniv, E., Yurovitzki, E., Berger, G., Gelernter, I. (1986) The Eustachian tube lumen in chronic otitis media. American Journal of Otology, 7: 439–442.Google ScholarPubMed
Sadé, J., Luntz, M. (1988) The Eustachian tube lumen: A comparison between normal and diseased states. In: Advances in Audiology, Basel, Karger 5: 56–70.Google Scholar
Shambaugh, G. E., Glasscock, M. E. (1980) Surgery of the Ear. Philadelphia, London, Toronto, W. B. Saunders. pp. 73–78.Google Scholar
Valsalva, A. M. (1704) De Aure Tractatus. Utrecht.Google Scholar
Zollner, F. (1942) Anatomie, Physiologie, Pathologie und Klinic der Ohrtrompete. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, p. 42.Google Scholar