title: [Evolution of the tubotympanal mucociliary system activity evaluated with scintigraphy, after ventilation tube insertion in adults with chronic otitis media with effusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tubotympanal mucociliary function is damaged in patients with otitis media with effusion. Our objective was to study its situation and recovery after timopanostomy tube insertion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the mucociliary activity of the ear and Eustachian tube with scintigraphy in four groups of adults with chronic otitis media with effusion after ventilation tube insertion. The test was performed on 3 days (Group I), 6 days (Group II), 9 days (Group III) and 12 days (Group IV) after tympanostomy tube insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After excluding some patients with limited otorrhea, the percentages of patients that normalised mucociliary function in the different groups were: Group I, 0 of 13, 0%; Group II, 4 of 15 patients, 26,6%; Group III, 14 de 18 cases, 88,8%; and, in Group IV, 18 of 18, 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mucociliary function is altered in patients with chronic otitis media with effusion. With the insertion of tympanostomy tubes, mucociliary clearance is restored progressively, reaching normal after 12 days in all the patients.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa , Zaragoza, España. hvalles@salud.aragon.es
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valles Varela
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Liesa
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Royo López
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Alfonso Collado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002923:Cilia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult