Transtympanic Aeration of the Middle Ear with Blocked Eustachian Tube

Abstract

Despite all efforts for a causative treatment quite a number of cases of serous otitis media and glue ears does not heal within a reasonable time. This may cause adhesions and result in permanent damage of the subtile middle ear mechanism.

The most important factor in therapy-resistant cases is the vicious cycle: malfunctioning of the Eustachian tube, irritation and swelling of the mucosa of middle ear and tube, increased tubal obstruction etc. Breaking of this vicious cycle by transtympanic aeration using a double knobbed polythene tube which is placed in a myringotomy incision is advocated. In the ENT department of the Leyden University Hospital this method has been used for over three years in over 200 ears with very satisfactory results.