EFFECT OF TUBAL VENTILATORY DYSFUNCTION ON EXCRETORY FUNCTION OF MIDDLE EAR FLUID-EXPERIMENTALSTUDY

Abstract

Effect of tubal ventilatory dysfunction on fluid excretion from the middle ear cavity was investigated. Seven adult cats (thirteen ears) were used. Tensor veli palatini muscles were transected and hamulus pteryoidei were resected on the right side of each animal (seven ears). Two to seven days after filling physiological saline with antibiotics into both of the middle ear spaces, residual volumes were compared between operated side and control side.
On the operated side, the volumes of residual physiological saline in the middle ear were significantly greater than control side (p<0.01), and in one ear operated, the middle ear pressure was-150mmH₂O by transtubal direct measurement.
It was concluded that tubal ventilatory dysfunction and irreversible negative middle ear pressure prevented fluid excretion from the middle ear. It was suggested that these two factors might be the primary causes of chronicity in otitis media with effusion (OME).