title: Assessment of eustachian tube function in tympanoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A clinically useful test for eustachian tube function (ETF) is still lacking. Here we plan to evaluate the mucociliary function of the ET by saccharin and methylene blue test, and compare the outcome of surgery with normal and abnormal ET functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with planned data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Manipal University), a tertiary care center in South India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 86 patients diagnosed with mucosal chronic otitis media in quiescent/inactive stage. All were subjected to a detailed clinical examination and investigations. Preoperative evaluation of ETF was compared with postoperative outcome of surgery, and the results were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The saccharin test and methylene blue dye test had a good correlation in evaluating ETF. The mean value for saccharin perception time and the clearance time for methylene blue were 17.5 and 8.1 minutes, respectively. ETF was best in anterior, worst among posterior, and intermediate in subtotal perforations. Type 1 tympanoplasty was successful in 94 percent with normal ETF and in 68 percent with partial dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The saccharin test is a simple, cost-effective, and valuable diagnostic tool to assess the mucociliary function of the ET. The outcome of middle ear surgery would be a success in normal ETF, whereas in partial dysfunction the outcome need not necessarily be a failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka State, India. kishorecprasad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kishore Chandra
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Mahesh Chandra
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.forename: Sampath Chandra
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Hari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyappan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012439:Saccharin; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents; D012439:Saccharin; D008751:Methylene Blue