Eustachian tube function in children with secretory otitis media.

Eustachian tube function was determined in 84 children (131 ears) with secretory otitis media (SOM) by means of sonotubometry. Determinations were made prior to myringotomy and insertion of ventilation tubes in conjunction with follow-up testing during the course of SOM. Despite the SOM, 14% of the ears showed normal sound passage through the tube before surgery, and towards the completion of this study tubal function was considered to be normal in 50% of the ears. Although sonotubometry gave a more reliable picture of tubal function in children with SOM, no difference in tubal function could be found among children of various age groups. Because of the large fluctuations in tubal function during the course of SOM, the ventilation tube should not be removed even in cases of apparently normal tubal function at the time of examination.