Abstract
Ventilatory function (inflation-deflation test) and excretory function (dye method) of the eustachian tube were examined in 220 ears with otitis media with effusion (OME): 100 ears of children, 77 ears of adults younger than 59 years and 43 ears of those older than 60 years. The control group consisted of 18 ears with traumatic perforation of the eardrum without a history of ear disease, which included 3 children.
1. Passive opening pressure (OP) was normal in 76% of children and in 62.3% of adults.
2. In 20% of OME ears, the first OP was high and the constant OP (third OP) was within the normal range. In these ears, intrinsic factors of the eustachian tube were considered to be the cause of tubal dysfunction.
3. Applied positive pressure could be equilibrated in 50% of children and adults and in 40% of aged adults. However, applied negative pressure could be equilibrated in only 3 % of children, 14.7% of adults and 7.2% of aged adults.
4. Excretory function was impaired in 60 -.70% of all the ears examined and showed no significant difference among the age groups.
It was concluded that equilibration function of negative pressure was impaired most, followed by excretory function and equilibration function of positive pressure, and that tubal passage was almost normal in ears with OME.
