[The prognostic value in tympanoplasty surgery of eustachian tube function tests (author's transl)]

A study was undertaken to test the validity of preoperative Eustachian tube ventilation measurements in 107 patients with conductive deafness and chronic middle ear disease. By standard static aspiration and deflation tests and with the Valsalva probe correlations were found in some patients between tubal function and the extent of middle ear damage as shown by the air-bone gap on audiometry and the findings at operation. However no prognostic information was evident with these measures since no relationship existed between tubal function and operative success as judged by closure of the air-bone gap or by healing of the tympanic membrane defect.