Abstract
Auditory tubes that do not open upon swallowing can not be evaluated using sonotubometry alone. Thus, the change of intranasal pressure and tubal opening and closing function were examined and compared by combining sonotubometry and Valsalva's maneuver.
The procedure of this combined method was as follows: When the auditory tube opened as a result of gradually increased intranasal pressure, sound loading in the nasal cavity is simultaneously transmitted via auditory tube to the external auditory meatus microphone. The pressure at this point is then read. The maximum pressure level in the nasal cavity was set at 500mmH2O.
Consequently, the tubal opening pressure was found to be 324.9±140.2mmH2O in 23 out of 26 cases (46 ears). Valsalva's maneuver faied in 3 out of 26 cases, ultimately providing a positive rate (success rate) of 88.5% in 23 out of 26 cases.
