Clearance Function of the Eustachian Tube in Chronic Otitis Media

Abstract

Mucociliary function of the eustachian tube was examined in 30 patients with chronic otitis media using a dye technique. Through a perforation of the ear drum, 0.02ml of dye solution (0.4% indigocarmine) was placed in the middle ear close to the tympanic orifice of the tube. The time for the solution to appear at the pharyngeal orifice of the tube was measured under endoscopic observation through the nose. The clearance time was found to be related to the ventilatory function of the tube and the pathological changes around the tympanic orifice. In 60% of the patients examined, the time for clearance was within 10 minutes. Except two patients with mechanical obstruction of the tube, all patients showed clearance times of less than 30 minutes. From these results, we concluded that clearance of the tube in chronic otitis media is not markedly impaired, although it is possible that our cases does not represent otitis media in general.