Analysis on the correlation between Eustachian tube function and outcomes of type I tympanoplasty for chronic suppurative otitis media

Abstract

Background: The potential influence of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) on the efficacy of tympanoplasty is controversial.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between Eustachian tube function (ETF) and outcomes of type I tympanoplasty for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM).

Materials and Methods: 53 patients with CSOM and receiving type I tympanoplasty were divided into a dysfunction group (Eustachian tube score; ETS ≤ 5points) and a normal group (ETS > 5 points) according to their preoperative ETS. During the one-year follow-up, the ETS, hearing results, and eardrum condition of the patients were recorded and analyzed.

Results: The ETS improved significantly from 2.57 (±1.73SD) to 4.68 (±2.00SD), while the mean air–bone gap (ABG) decreased significantly from 20.94 (±9.04SD) dB to 16.43 (±9.06SD) dB in the dysfunction group (p < .05). The postoperative ABG showed no significant difference in the two groups. The healing rate of the tympanic membrane was 96.43% in the dysfunction group, and 100% in the normal group.

Conclusions and significance: The ETF was significantly improved after type I tympanoplasty for CSOM combined with ETD, and the postoperative efficacy was not adversely affected. The ETD may not influence the outcomes of type I tympanoplasty for CSOM.

Chinese abstract

背景：咽鼓管功能障碍（ETD）对鼓膜成形术疗效的潜在影响是有争议的。

目的：本研究旨在探讨咽鼓管功能（ETF）与I型鼓室成形术治疗慢性化脓性中耳炎（CSOM）的结果之间的相关性。。

材料与方法：将53例CSOM并接受I型鼓膜成形术的患者根据他们的术前ETS分为两组：功能障碍组（咽鼓管评分； ETS 5分）和正常组（ETS> 5分）。在一年的随访期间, 记录并分析了患者的ETS、听力结果和耳膜状况。

结果：功能障碍组的ETS从2.57（±1.73SD）显着提高到4.68（±2.00SD）, 而平均气-骨间隙（ABG）从20.94（±9.04SD）dB显着降低到16.43（±9.06SD）dB（p<.05）。两组术后ABG无明显差异。功能障碍组的鼓膜治愈率为96.43％, 正常组为100％。

结论和意义：对于CSOM并患ETD 的患者, I型鼓膜成形术后, ETF明显改善。术后疗效未受到不良影响。 ETD可能不会影响CSOM的I型鼓室成形术的结果。

Keywords:

• Chronic suppurative otitis media
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Eustachian tube score
• tympanoplasty

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, and all the participating patients were well noticed about the objective of this study.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients and their families for their contributions to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest has been reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Key International (Regional) Joint Research Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China [NSFC#81820108009]; the Capital Health Research and Development of Special Project [2016-1-5014].