Skip to main content
The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology
Download PDF
  • Original article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Effect of nasal obstruction surgery on middle ear ventilation

The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology volume 30, pages 191–195 (2014)Cite this article

En

Abstract

Aim

The purpose of this study was to reveal the role of nasal surgeries in changing Eustachian tube function (ETF) and middle ear ventilation.

Methods

This prospective study involved 30 patients with diffrent nasal pathologies causing nasal obstruction. The patients were subjected to diffrent nasal surgeries for treating their nasal obstruction. ETF tests in the form of (Valsalva and Toynbee manuvers) together with tympanometery were performed the day before the operation, and then repeated 30 days after removal of the nasal packs. Pre and postoperative Valsalva and Toynbee tubal function tests, tympanometery and ear fullness sensation were evaluated for both ears of each patient.

Results

Preoperatively, 47 (78.3%) ears were type A, 24 ears of them had poor ETF and 23 ears had good ETF. Thirteen (21.6%) ears were type C, all of them had poor ETF. The postoperative results of ETF tests were significantly better than preoperative results (P < 0.002). Significant improvement in tympanometeric values was also found (P < 0.05). Preoperatively, 28 patients (93.3%) had sensation of ear fullness. At 30 days after removal of nasal packs, 20 patients (66.7%) still had sensation of ear fullness, with significant improvement (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

We suggest that nasal obstruction has a definite relationship with EFT. Surgery for nasal obstruction has a favorable effect on the middle ear pressure and EFT. Type A tympanogram not always means a good EFT but the patient may have poor EFT with Eustachian tybe dysfunction inspite of type (A) tympanogram.

References

  1. Bonding P, Tos M. Middle ear pressure during brief pathological conditions of the nose and throat. Acta Otolaryngol 1981; 92: 63–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fireman P. Otitis media and Eustachian tube dysfunction: connection to allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1981; 99: S787–S797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bluestone CD, Klein JO. Otitis media in infants and children. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co; 1995. 1–201.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Deron P, Clement PA, Derde MP. Septal surgery and tubal function: early and late results. Rhinology 1995; 33: 7–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Iwano T, Kinoshita T, Hamada E, et al. Sensation of ear fullness caused by Eustachian tube dysfunctions. Auris Nasus Larynx 1991; 18: 343–349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gonzalez F, Garabal JA, Torres T, et al. The Toynbee’s phenomenon effect on the middle ear during nasal tamponade. An Otorrinolaringol Ibero Am 1997; 24: 393–400.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Sims EJ, Wilson AM, White PS, et al. Short-term repeatability and correlates of laboratory measures of nasal function in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Rhinology 2002; 40: 66–68.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Horak F. Impact and modulation of nasal obstruction. Allergy 2002; 57: 25–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fiellau M, Hojslet PE, Felding JU. Adenoidectomy for Eustachian tube dysfunction. Long term results from randomized controlled trial. Arch Otolaryngol 1982; 386: 129–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Knight LC, Eccles R, Morris S. Seasonal allergic rhinitis and its effects on Eustachian tube function and middle ear pressure. Clin Otolarygol Allied Sci 1992; 17: 308–312.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ryggeri C Baberio G Paino GB, et al. An assessment of middle ear involvement in children with allergic rhinitis: a comparison with chronic hypertrophic adenitis. Pediatr Med Chir 1990; 12:491–493.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Low WK, Williatt DJ. The relation between middle ear pressure and deviated nasal septum. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1993; 18: 308–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jerger J. Clinical experience with impedance audiometry. Arch Otolaryngol 1970; 92: 311–324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jonathan DA. Sonotubometry: its role in childhood glue ear. Clin Otolaryngol 1989; 14: 151–155.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lildholdt T, Courtis J, Kortholm B. The diagnosis of negative middle ear pressure in children. Acta Otolaryngol 1980; 89: 459–464.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Salvinelli F, Casale M, Greco F, et al. Nasal surgery and Eustachian tube function: effects on middle ear ventilation. Clin Otolaryngol 2005; 30: 409–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. McCurdy MJ. Effects of nasal packing on Eustachian tube function. Arch Otolaryngol 1977; 103: 521–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Farenti G Denaro E. Rhino-pharyngeal disease and tubal disease. Relations and influences. Middle Ear Dis Surg 1992; 12:199–204.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Salvinelli F, Casale M, Trivelli M, et al. Nasal and hearing impairment: are they linked? Med Hypotheses 2002; 58: 141–143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Minia University, Shalby Square, 61111, Minia, Egypt

    Osama G. Abdel-Naby Awad MD, PhD & Yehia M. Salama

  2. Department of Audiology Unit, Department of Otolaryngology, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

    Mohammed El-Badry

Authors
  1. Osama G. Abdel-Naby Awad MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yehia M. Salama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohammed El-Badry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Osama G. Abdel-Naby Awad MD, PhD.

Additional information

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abdel-Naby Awad, O.G., Salama, Y.M. & El-Badry, M. Effect of nasal obstruction surgery on middle ear ventilation. Egypt J Otolaryngol 30, 191–195 (2014). https://doi.org/10.4103/1012-5574.138462

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1012-5574.138462

Keywords