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Value of middle ear inflation as a diagnostic indicator of eustachian tube patency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

M. Luntz  and
J. Sadé
M. Luntz
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
J. Sadé*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
*
Prof. J. Sadé Meir HospitalKfar Saba 44281Israel
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Abstract

The value of tubal inflation as a diagnostic procedure for Eustachian tube patency and function is controversial. In an attempt to assess the diagnostic value of air douche in atelectatic ears, 49 such ears of 40 patients were politzerized. The procedure was successful in 45 ears. However, of the four unsuccessful cases, two of the patients were able to autoinflate their ears. These results show that air douches pass regularly through the Eustachian tube into the tympanic cavity even in atelectatic ears, which by definition suffer from aeration deficiency, which is often considered to be secondary to ‘Eustachian tube obstruction’, or alternatively ‘Eustachian tube dysfunction’. Thus, the ability to force air through the Eustachian tube by politzerization is of no diagnostic value as an indicator of normal or abnormal tubal patency or functioning in atelectatic ears and most probably in allied conditions.

Type
Short Communication
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 104 , Issue 2 , February 1990 , pp. 134 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1990

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