title: Tubal function and surgery in chronic otitis media. A study on the predictive value of testing tubal function, Valsalva's manoeuvre and volume of ear spaces.
abstract: In 141 ears with central tympanic membrane (TM) perforation preoperative tubal studies as well as volume determination of the air-filled ear spaces was performed. Tubal patency was checked with Valsalva's manoeuvre and pressure equilibration function with Toynbee's test and aspiration-deflation tests respectively. At postoperative control 74.5% of the ears had intact movable TM (healed), 5.7% had intact but immovable or retracted TM and 19.8% had perforation (defect). There was no difference between the healed and defect ears regarding results in aspiration-deflation tests. A positive Valsalva's manoeuvre was significantly more frequent in the healed ears. Ears with a small air-filled volume and negative Valsalva's manoeuvre showed significantly lower healing rate than ears with positive Valsalva's manoeuvre and a large air-filled volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andréasson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivarsson
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tjernström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009225:Myringoplasty; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014433:Tympanoplasty; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver