Pneumatic endoscopy of the Eustachian tube.

A new technique of endoscopy of the Eustachian tube has been developed using a flexible fiberscope provided with an instrument channel for insufflation of air to expand the tubal lumen. This method permits observation of the inside of the entire cartilaginous portion as far as the isthmus, and may be significant in evaluating the pathological conditions of tubal dysfunction in such cases as secretory otitis media, chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma, and the preoperative and postoperative states in tympanoplasty.