CORRELATION OF EUSTACHIAN TUBE FUNCTION WITH TYMPANOPLASTY OUTCOME

Abstract

Background– Eustachian tube play a vital role in the pathogenesis of middle ear cleft disease.Normal eustachian tube function (ETF) is responsible for successful tympanoplasty outcome. Pre operative ETF test should be done. Aim & objective– To evaluate the role of Eustachian tube function in successful graft uptake in tympanoplasty. Method – a prospective study was done on 50 patients, with mucosal type of chronic otitis media (COM). Eustachian tube function (ETF) was assessed with various methods like impedance audiometry (Toynbee's method),methylene blue dye test etc, and correlation of graft uptake with preoperative ETF was done. Result– Out of 50 patients,78% had normal tubal function and 22% had partially impaired tubal function. Tympanoplasty was successful in 92.3% patients with normal ETF and 54.5% patients with partially impaired ETF. Conclusion– There is a strong association between ETF and graft uptake.Thus,proving that eustachian tube plays a major role in the graft uptake.So preoperative ETF should be done.