title: Tensor veli palatini electromyography for monitoring Eustachian tube rehabilitation in otitis media.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of otitis media is related to Eustachian tube dysfunction. The tensor veli palatini muscle actively opens the Eustachian tube and promotes middle-ear ventilation. This study describes a technique for paratubal electromyography that uses a surface, non-invasive electrode able to record tensor veli palatini muscle activity during swallowing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty otitis media patients and 10 healthy patients underwent tensor veli palatini electromyography. Activity of this muscle before and after Eustachian tube rehabilitation was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 78.5 per cent of patients, the electromyography duration phase and/or amplitude were reduced in the affected side. The muscle action potential was impaired in all patients who underwent Eustachian tube rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that Eustachian tube muscle dysfunction has a role in otitis media pathogenesis and showed that muscle activity increases after Eustachian tube rehabilitation therapy.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Picciotti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology,Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Marca
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Alatri
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigante
authors.affiliation: ENT Department,Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013719:Tensor Tympani / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Electromyography; Eustachian Tube; Otitis Media; Rehabilitation