title: [Sniff-induced negative pressure--a cause for the development of middle ear diseases?].
abstract: The significance of "sniffing" causing tubal dysfunction and thus leading to the development of cholesteatoma is discussed. We examined 244 healthy ears (18% sniff-positive), 21 ears with a traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane (10% sniff-positive), 46 ears with chronic mesotympanic otitis (17% sniff-positive) and 40 ears with cholesteatoma (60% sniff-positive). Two different methods were used: on intact tympanic membranes the pressure chamber impedance method described by Munker-Pedersen (1972), and for perforated tympanic membranes a pressure transducer. Our results show that: (1) "sniffing" can cause negative pressure in the middle ear space; (2) the traditional concept of opening failure is no longer sufficient to explain tubal dysfunction; (3) sniff-induced negative pressure is a further possible cause of tubal dysfunction; (4) sniff-induced negative pressure seems to be an important factor in the development of cholesteatoma.
authors.affiliation: HNO-Klinik, Universität Freiburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Münker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000399:Air Pressure; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology
vernacular_title: Sniff-induzierter Unterdruck--eine Ursache für die Entstehung von Mittelohrerkrankungen?