Objective tube function tests – an unresolved issue?

Introduction:

Tube dysfunctions are frequent complaints. There is no gold standard of the objective tube function test. Established procedures are the tube manometry (TM) and the pressure chamber investigation (DK).

Methods:

In a retrospective study, all patients were considered, which were examined from 01.06.2016 to 15.10.2017 in the Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik der Universitätsmedizin Mainz due to tube dysfunction using DK and TM. Patients with history of interventions of the tympanic membrane or eustachian tube were excluded.

The result of the TM was recorded on the basis of the ETS-7 score, the result of the DK was divided into 5 categories: patulous tube, residual pressure in the middle ear, no opening, delayed opening, regular opening. The aim of the study was to compare functional measurements using DK and TM.

Results:

17 patients (34 ears) could be included in the study. The average age was 48.8 years. The majority of patients (69%) were female. A subjective ventilation disorder of the ear was 47.1% unilateral and 52.9% bilateral.

16 ears were detected dysfunctional with the DK and 11 ears with the TM alone.

In 9 ears there were consistent findings of both procedures. The subjectively affected ear agreed in 47.1% of the ears with the objective finding in the DK and in 27.0% with that in the TM. In 23.5% the subjectively affected ear showed consistent pathological findings in the TM and the DK.

Conclusions:

A tube ventilation disorder can be diagnosed by both methods. By measuring dynamically the DK allows a more reliable diagnosis. A basic problem of all the objective methods remains the low sensitivity and specificity.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)