Pashley N R, Scholl P D
J Otolaryngol. 1984 Oct;13(5):296-8.
Placement of tympanostomy tubes is the most frequently performed otolaryngologic procedure. The common practice is to forbid swimming and to recommend limitation of liquids entering the external auditory canal based upon the premise that liquids entering the external auditory canal will pass freely into the middle ear space via the tube and thus contaminate the space. Indeed, otologic medications (drops) are presumed and are observed to enter the middle ear space by this same route. The physical characteristics of the middle ear and drumhead with a tube in place were examined and a model constructed to test by observation these characteristics. Measurements of the surface tension of water, 2N saline, Cortisporin suspension ear drops, and soapy bath water were performed to provide a clinical correlate. The study implies that limitation of swimming activities or liquid exposure of the ear with a tympanostomy tube in all children may be inappropriate.
鼓膜置管是最常施行的耳鼻喉科手术。通常的做法是禁止游泳，并建议限制液体进入外耳道，其依据的前提是进入外耳道的液体会通过置管自由进入中耳腔，从而污染该腔隙。事实上，耳科药物（滴剂）被认为并观察到是通过相同途径进入中耳腔的。研究人员检查了置管时中耳和鼓膜的物理特性，并构建了一个模型来通过观察测试这些特性。还测量了水、2N盐水、可的松耳用混悬滴剂和肥皂水的表面张力，以提供临床关联。该研究表明，对所有有鼓膜置管的儿童限制游泳活动或耳部接触液体可能并不恰当。
