Congenital cardiac outflow tract anomalies and otitis media

The neural crest is involved in the differentiation of the cardiac outflow tract and branchial arches. Branchial arches one and two give rise to the eustachian tubes. Anatomically different eustachian tubes (e.g., short length) are found in persons prone to otitis media. We hypothesized a relationship between outflow tract anomalies and eustachian tube anomalies. The medical records of 238 children with a catheterization diagnosis of congenital heart disease were reviewed for otitis diagnoses. Children with syndromes known to be associated with recurring otitis media were excluded. Recurrent otitis media was recorded in 32.2% of those with outflow tract anomaly, significantly (P less than 0.03) higher than the 18.9% rate in children with a cardiac anomaly not involving the outflow tract. Neither race, sex, nor cyanosis seemed to account for the differing rates of otitis. These data may support the concept of a field defect arising from neural crest cells that influences the development of the cardiac outflow tract and eustachian tubes.