title: [Evaluation of the cochlear aqueduct patency: comparison of 2 noninvasive techniques].
abstract: Variations in cephalo-rachidian fluid pressure can be transmitted to the middle ear through the cochlear aqueduct (CA). This gives us a non-invasive manner to evaluate any changes in fluid pressure by measuring middle ear impedance (impedancemetry). The present study compared two indirect methods for measuring intracranial pressure: a) impedancemetry during evoked jugulo-tympanic reflex (JTR) and b) study of the tympanic membrane (TM) fine motility using a MMS-10 analyzer. The latter is a new procedure involving the indirect evaluation of the fluid pressure. In fact, when the CA is open the labyrinthine fluid pressure is transmitted to the oval window, the stapes platina and, finally, to the tympanic membrane where it can be measured with an MMS-10 unit. This equipment can measure nanoliter shifts in the TM. In particular, comparison between the clinostatic and orthostatic tympanic motility measurements enable one to establish whether the CA is patent or not. In the present study 15 subjects were examined using both a) impedancemetry during jugular compression and b) analysis of the TM shift using an MMS-10 unit. In 14 of the 15 cases there was good correlation between the data obtained using both methods: in all but one case it proved possible to record a JTR-induced variation in impedance whenever the MMS-10 indicated that the CA was open. The results suggest that, in clinical practice, the two methods can be used in parallel for non-invasive monitoring of variations in intracranial pressure in patients with neurological involvement. On the other hand, in the E.N.T. field these techniques could be used to study inner ear pathologies causing dynamic alterations of the endolabyrinth fluids (endolymphatic hydrops, labyrinthine fistula).
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Clinica, Università di Torino.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albera
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lerda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usai
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tondolo
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D003052:Cochlear Aqueduct / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D007761:Labyrinthine Fluids / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology
vernacular_title: Valutazione della pervietà dell'acquedotto cocleare: comparazione tra due tecniche non invasive.