抄録
Eustachian tube function tests including the sniffing test were performed in a series of 178 ears with middle ear diseases. The sniffing test was positive in 24 ears out of 139 (17%) in pediatric patients and 8 of 39 ears (21%) in adult patients.
In the pediatric patients, both the average opening pressure and the closing pressure were significantly lower in the positive sniffing test group than those in the negative sniffing test group. The positive-pressure equalization test and Valsalva test were positive in 92% and 33% of the former group, respectively, while they were positive in 69% and 14% of the latter group, respectively. In contrast, in the adult patients, such difference was not observed irrespective of the results of the sniffing test. Based on these results, the eustachian tubes were assumed to have less resistance to the positive or negative pressure load when the sniffing test is positive compared with those that is negative. Clinical implications of the obtained results were discussed with a literature review.
