Myringotomy was performed in 37 ears of 21 children with otitis media with effusion, and their middle ear effusions (MEE) were examined. Tsumura-Saireito was administered in a dose of 3 or 6g/day orally for four weeks following the myringotomy. Fifteen of the 37 ears (40.5%) showed complete or partial recovery on clinical examination.
Both storage modulus (G') and dynamic viscosity (η') of the paired MEEs were determined by an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer at a frequency of 1Hz under a constant temperature of 25°C. No significant difference was observed in G' and η' between the MEEs before and after treatment. These results indicate that the combination of myringotomy and Tsumura-Saireito did not change the viscoelastic properties of MEE within 4 weeks.
