Middle Ear Ventilation in Chronic Otitis Media

Abstract

The eustachian tube function was determined by the aspiration method in ears with dry chronic otitis media. It was shown that almost 80% of the ears had poor tubal function. The mastoid air cell size was determined in ears with dry chronic otitis media by planimetry on the x-ray picture. Almost all had a cell system size below the mean size of a normal material. The relation between tubal function and mastoid air cell size was also analyzed. It was shown that increased size of the cell system indicates an increased percentage of normal tubal function. In a follow-up investigation of ears operated on with myringoplasty, it was shown that the better the preoperative tubal function and the larger the size of the mastoid air cell system the higher the percentage of healed ears.