Obstruction of the eustachian tube orifice and pressure changes in the middle ear: are they correlated?
OBJECTIVE
We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate whether the obstruction of the eustachian tube orifice due to adenoid hyperplasia changes the pressures in the middle ear.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive children 2 to 12 years of age with nasal obstruction were examined from May to October 2005. Adenoid size and status of the eustachian tube orifice were assessed with nasal flexible fiberoptic endoscopy. Tympanometry was used to evaluate the middle ear.


RESULTS
In children with occlusion of the eustachian tube orifice by adenoid tissue, 87% had abnormal pressure in the middle ear according to tympanograms. When orifices were not occluded, 86% of the tympanograms were normal (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Obstruction of the eustachian tube orifice by adenoid tissue was associated with tympanograms suggestive of abnormal pressure in the middle ear. Future studies with a larger sample size are necessary to clarify this association.
Kindermann
Christine Aparecida
CA
School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Roithmann
Renato
R
Lubianca Neto
José Faibes
JF
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure