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Evaluation of Eustachian tube function with dynamic and static tests in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy: A
Sumeyra Doluoglu1, Aybuke Zuhal Gazeloglu1, Nilgun Ulger2
1University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Eustachian dysfunction is common after adenotonsillectomy in children, affecting over 60% of patients initially. However, most cases resolve within 15 days, indicating a temporary effect of the surgery on Eustachian tube function.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Audiology
Background:
- Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is a common condition in children requiring surgical intervention.
- Adenotonsillectomy is a standard procedure for treating adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction can impact middle ear health and hearing outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess Eustachian tube function in children immediately and early after adenotonsillectomy.
- To determine the incidence and recovery pattern of Eustachian dysfunction post-adenotonsillectomy.
- To evaluate the impact of adenotonsillectomy on Eustachian tube function using objective measures.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of children aged 4-14 years with adenotonsillar hypertrophy underwent adenotonsillectomy.
- Preoperative and postoperative (day 1 and day 15) assessments included tympanometry (226 Hz and 1000 Hz), Eustachian function test (EFT), and audiometry.
- Patients with normal preoperative Eustachian tube function were included.
Main Results:
- Postoperative day one revealed Eustachian dysfunction in over 60% of ears, regardless of probe tone frequency.
- By postoperative day 15, Eustachian function recovery was observed in over 90% of affected ears in both right and left sides.
- Statistical analysis showed a significant p-value (p=0.0001) for the recovery of Eustachian function.
Conclusions:
- Eustachian dysfunction is a frequent early complication following adenotonsillectomy in children.
- The majority of children experience complete recovery of Eustachian tube function by 15 days post-surgery.
- These findings suggest that early postoperative Eustachian dysfunction is transient and typically resolves spontaneously.
Objective:
To evaluate Eustachian function in the immediate and early late period after adenotonsillectomy.
Methods:
The study sample comprised children aged 4-14 years, who were diagnosed with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, then underwent adenotonsillectomy. All patients included in the study had normal preoperative Eustachian tube function. Tympanometry using 226 Hz and 1000 Hz probe tone, Eustachian function test (EFT), and audiometric examination were performed one day before and was then repeated on the first and 15th days after adenotonsillectomy.
Results:
A total of 256 ears of 128 patients were evaluated. According to the tympanometry results, on postoperative day one, Eustachian dysfunction in the right ear was determined in 80 (62.5 %) patients with 226 Hz probe tone and in 76 (59.3 %) with 1000 Hz probe tone, and these rates for the left ear were 79 (61.7 %) and 73 (57 %) patients, respectively. On the 15th day postoperatively, Eustachian function was determined to have recovered in the right ear of 75 of 80 (90.3 %) patients with 226 Hz probe tone and in 72 of 76 patients (94.7 %) with 1000 Hz probe tone (p = 0.0001). In the left ear, Eustachian function was determined to have recovered in the right ear of 73 of 79 (92 %) patients with 226 Hz probe tone and in 68 of 73 patients (93 %) with 1000 Hz probe tone (p = 0.0001).
Conclusion:
The study results showed that Eustachian dysfunction is common in the early period after adenotonsillectomy but almost all of these cases completely recovered by the 15th day postoperatively.
Clinical Trials Number:
NCT06577051.
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