Correlation of Eustachian tube function with the results of type 1 tympanoplasty: a prospective study

This study aims to evaluate Eustachian tube (ET) function tests and their impact on outcomes of tympanoplasty in patients with inactive chronic suppurative otitis media.

A prospective study was conducted involving patients diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and having a central dry perforation. Assessment of the ET function was done for all included cases by three tests; pressure swallow equalization test, saccharine test and methylene blue test. The primary outcome is the graft success rate defined as intact graft without any residual perforation at 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include hearing assessment and possible associated complications.

64 patients were included in the study with an average age of 36.59 ± 11.96 years. All patients underwent assessment of the ET function by saccharine test, methylene blue test and pressure equalization test (PET) followed by microscopic post-auricular tympanoplasty. Successful tympanoplasty is achieved in 93.75% of cases with residual perforation in four patients. Mean air-bone gap is significantly improved from 23.73 ± 2.80 preoperatively to 10.93 ± 5.46 postoperatively. Results of Methylene blue test has no statistical impact on graft take rate (p value = 0.379), while saccharine test and pressure equalization test results have statistically significant correlation with graft success (p value ≤ 0.001).

Saccharine and Pressure equalization tests have a good positive correlation with the graft healing in tympanoplasty, while methylene blue test was found to have no correlation with the success rate.