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Manometric measurement of eustachian tube ventilatory function
Author(s) -
Mccurdy John A.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198002000-00009
Subject(s) - eustachian tube , tube (container) , medicine , function (biology) , anatomy , biology , engineering , middle ear , mechanical engineering , evolutionary biology
Although initial manometric studies of Eustachian tube ventilatory function in both normal and abnormal ears suggested that this technique provided an accurate physiologic assessment of ventilatory function, recent studies have questioned the physiologic nature of these tests. In an effort to clarify this controversy, the tubal ventilatory capacity of 51 ears in which Eustachian tube function was clinically normal was assessed manometrically. Similar measurements were made in 18 ears in which Eustachian tube function was clinically normal except for a complaint of aural fullness. This group showed poorer ventilatory function than normal ears, but the most striking result was the inability of over 50% of the normal group to equilibrate negative pressure to a level within the normal range of 0 to—50 mm H 2 O. It is postulated that Eustachian tube ventilatory function exhibits a range of individual variability such as is characteristic of other biologic systems.