The Role of the Eustachian Tube in Myringoplasty

Abstract

The importance of tubal function in the results of myringoplastic operations has been estimated in 72 cases with central ear drum defects as residues after chronic otitis media. The tubal function has been tested pre-operatively with the “aspiration method”. More than one year postoperatively the patients have been reviewed, when hearing and healing were noted. The results were correlated to pre-operative tubal function testing results. In the group with “good” tubal function there was 75% healing and only 16% of the patients had perforations. In the “hypo-function” group almost 90% failed. Many factors besides the tubal function influence healing in myringoplasty. However, the aspiration method for testing the Eustachian tube, according to this report, is able to give valuable prognostic information.