Chauhan Bhushan, Chauhan Komal
Department of E.N.T., Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ramnagar, Banur, Patiala, Punjab India.
Department of Food Science & Nutrition, Banasthali University, Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, Rajasthan India.
Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Dec;65(Suppl 3):468-76. doi: 10.1007/s12070-011-0312-9. Epub 2011 Sep 24.
Eustachian tube is a bony and fibrocartilagenous tube extending from the antero-inferior part of middle ear cleft to lateral wall of the nasopharynx. Its main functions are ventilation of middle ear to equalize the middle ear pressure with atmospheric pressure and mucociliary clearance. The functioning of eustachian tube has a direct impact on normal middle ear function. As a corollary, dysfunction of eustachian tube inevitably leads to retraction of the tympanic membrane initially and sterile effusion and subsequent conductive deafness later. Secretory otitis media today is the most common cause of conductive deafness in children with an intact ear drum. Evaluation of function of eustachian tube assumes paramount importance in this scenario. To evaluate eustachian tube functions in normal and diseased ears with tympanometry and videonasopharyngoscopy and to compare the tympanometric tests of eustachian tube function with videonasopharyngoscopy and to assess their reliability. The study was conducted at Army hospital (R&R) Delhi Cantt from October 2005 to April 2007. Hundred (100) ears were examined and were divided into two groups, the control group with normal tympanic membrane on otoscopy and case group with complaints of diminished hearing and intact but retracted tympanic membrane. Their eustachian tube function was evaluated by tympanometric tests and videonasopharyngoscopy. Thereafter a comparison was made between the two. The study revealed that videonasopharyngoscopy was highly accurate and reliable test for eustachian tube function as compared to tympanometry. Slow motion video analysis of eustachian tube dynamics is a useful tool for further understanding the pathophysiology of tubal dysfunction.
咽鼓管是一条由中耳腔前下部延伸至鼻咽部侧壁的骨纤维软骨管。其主要功能是使中耳通气，使中耳压力与大气压平衡，并进行黏液纤毛清除。咽鼓管的功能对中耳的正常功能有直接影响。相应地，咽鼓管功能障碍不可避免地首先导致鼓膜内陷，继而出现无菌性积液，随后导致传导性耳聋。如今，分泌性中耳炎是鼓膜完整的儿童传导性耳聋的最常见原因。在这种情况下，评估咽鼓管功能至关重要。目的是通过鼓室导抗图和视频鼻咽喉镜检查来评估正常耳和患病耳的咽鼓管功能，并比较咽鼓管功能的鼓室导抗图检查与视频鼻咽喉镜检查结果，评估它们的可靠性。该研究于2005年10月至2007年4月在德里军区陆军医院（康复与研究）进行。对100只耳朵进行了检查，并分为两组，一组为耳镜检查时鼓膜正常的对照组，另一组为有听力减退主诉且鼓膜完整但内陷的病例组。通过鼓室导抗图检查和视频鼻咽喉镜检查评估他们的咽鼓管功能。此后对两者进行了比较。研究表明，与鼓室导抗图检查相比，视频鼻咽喉镜检查对咽鼓管功能的检测具有更高的准确性和可靠性。咽鼓管动态的慢动作视频分析是进一步了解咽鼓管功能障碍病理生理学的有用工具。
