title: Eustachian tube function following total laryngectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The function of the Eustachian tube has been investigated in various conditions. However, its status has not been evaluated in total laryngectomized patients. This study was designed to investigate short-term and long-term changes of the Eustachian tube that occur following total laryngectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled a total of 53 patients who have undergone total laryngectomy in a tertiary referral center. These patients were divided into 2 groups, as those within the last 2 years after surgery (group 1) and those more than 2 years after surgery (group 2). In addition, 51 healthy volunteers were studied as a control group (group 3). We tested Eustachian tube function with P1, P2, and P3. P1 is the tympanometric measurement while resting. P2 is the tympanometric measurement after the Toynbee maneuver. P3 is the tympanometric testing after the Valsalva maneuver. To evaluate the functionality of the Eustachian tube, we used the P1-P2 >10 daPa or Pmax - Pmin >15 daPa criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was not detected between Pmax - Pmin, P2, and P1-P2 values among the groups. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was also not detected between the right and left sides through the Pmax - Pmin values when assessing the groups among themselves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We determined that the functions of Eustachian tubes were not different between the patients who underwent total laryngectomy and the healthy volunteers at nearly the same age. The lack of active airflow in the upper respiratory tract following total laryngectomy has no effect on the function of the Eustachian tube in the short and long term.
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey. aysenurmeric@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Aysenur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meric
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kahya
authors.forename: Sabri Baki
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Fahrettin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozturan
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*