Eustachian tube evaluation in aviators

Iannella, Giannicola; Lucertini, Marco; Pasquariello, Benedetta; Manno, Alessandra; Angeletti, Diletta; Re, Massimo; Magliulo, Giuseppe

doi:10.1007/s00405-016-4198-8

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A significant correlation was found between frequent exposure to high altitude variations and a high ETDQ-7. This finding mirrors that of previous medical literature on barotrauma [21]. No data has yet been established regarding frequent exposure to high altitude variation, but barotraumatic injuries have been closely monitored in pilots [21].…”

Section: Altitudesupporting

confidence: 86%

“…This finding mirrors that of previous medical literature on barotrauma [21]. No data has yet been established regarding frequent exposure to high altitude variation, but barotraumatic injuries have been closely monitored in pilots [21]. A previous study conducted on aviators in 2013, showed a pathological value of the ET score-7 after a hypobaric chamber session [21].…”

Section: Altitudesupporting

confidence: 85%

“…During ascent, middle ear pressure is higher than the external auditory canal's pressure. This in turn pushes the tympanic membrane outward, thus forcing the ET to open and provide equal pressures [21]. However, during descent, the opposite happens [21].…”

Section: Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

“…No data has yet been established regarding frequent exposure to high altitude variation, but barotraumatic injuries have been closely monitored in pilots [21]. A previous study conducted on aviators in 2013, showed a pathological value of the ET score-7 after a hypobaric chamber session [21]. During ascent, middle ear pressure is higher than the external auditory canal's pressure.…”

Section: Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This in turn pushes the tympanic membrane outward, thus forcing the ET to open and provide equal pressures [21]. However, during descent, the opposite happens [21]. This frequent exposure to pressure variability may induce changes in the motility of the tube.…”

Section: Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Is there a relationship between Eustachian tube dysfunction and nasal septal deviation in a sample of the Lebanese population?

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background The Eustachian tube (ET) is considered an organ by itself due to its specific functions. An ET Dysfunction (ETD) is discussed when this tube is unable to ventilate the middle ear properly. Clinically, the patient reports usually some aural fullness, “popping”, “under water” sensation as if the ear is clogged. This condition is common affecting at least 5% of the adult population. It can impair quality of life and become disabling. On the other side, the prevalence of nasal septal deviation (NSD) is believed to be around 22.83% in the adult population. Nasal septal deviation is thought to cause a decline in the middle ear ventilation according to certain authors. The primary outcome is to define the predictive value of the side of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) symptoms vis-à-vis the side of nasal septal deviation (NSD) in patients having the two conditions concomitantly. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2018 and September 2019. Overall, 60 consecutive subjects (total of 120 ears), randomly seen at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinics at the Eye and Ear International Hospital, Lebanon, all year-round were enrolled and tested without any geographic preferences. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ) -7 questionnaire was used to evaluate ETD. Results A significantly higher ETD score was found in males compared to females, in those with left septal deviation compared to right and in those who have symptoms on the left compared to right side. Frequent exposure to higher changes in altitude (commute from home to workplace) was also significantly associated with higher ETD scores (r = 0.265), whereas higher Left Tympanometric peak pressure (TPP in daPa) on tympanometry was significantly associated with lower ETD score (r = − 0.467). Furthermore, 25 patients who had symptoms on the left side had also a septal deviation to the left side (86.2%), whereas 29 (93.5%) patients who had the symptoms on the right side had septal deviation to the right side (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our data highlighted the importance of altitude and geographic distribution of patients especially in a population exposed to barotrauma on a daily basis like the Lebanese population. Tympanometry, on the other hand, failed to correlate with patient reported symptoms and thus needs further evaluation. The reported ETD symptoms of the patient correlates to the side of NSD.

show abstract

Section: Altitudesupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Altitudesupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Is there a relationship between Eustachian tube dysfunction and nasal septal deviation in a sample of the Lebanese population?

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Spaceflight-Associated Changes in the Opacification of the Paranasal Sinuses and Mastoid Air Cells in Astronauts

Inglesby

Antonucci

Spampinato

et al. 2020

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IMPORTANCE Head congestion is one of the most common somatic symptoms experienced by astronauts during spaceflight; however, changes in the opacification of the paranasal sinuses or mastoid air cells in astronauts have not been adequately studied.OBJECTIVES To quantify preflight to postflight changes in the opacification of the paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells in Space Shuttle astronauts and International Space Station (ISS) astronauts and to assess whether there are differences between the 2 groups of astronauts. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSThis cohort study examined preflight and postflight head magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 35 astronauts who had participated in either a short-duration (Յ30 days) Space Shuttle mission or a long-duration (>30 days) ISS mission and had undergone both preflight and postflight MRI. Images were obtained before and after spaceflight. Images were evaluated by 2 neuroradiologists blinded to which mission each astronaut had flown and to which images were preflight or postflight images. EXPOSURE Spaceflight on the Space Shuttle or the ISS. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Measured outcomes included preflight to postflight changes in Lund-Mackay scores for the paranasal sinuses and in scores grading mastoid effusions. RESULTS Most astronauts in both the Space Shuttle group (n = 17; 15 men; mean [SD] age at launch, 47.7 [3.1] years) and the ISS group (n = 18; 14 men; mean [SD] age at launch, 48.6 [4.7] years) exhibited either no change or a reduction in paranasal sinus opacification as seen on postflight MRI scans (Space Shuttle group: 6 [35.3%] had no sinus opacification before or after spaceflight, 5 [29.4%] had less sinus opacification after spaceflight, 3 [17.6%] had the same amount of sinus opacification before and after spaceflight, and 3 [17.6%] had increased paranasal sinus opacification after spaceflight; ISS group: 8 [44.4%] had no sinus opacification before or after spaceflight, 4 [22.2%] had less sinus opacification after spaceflight, 1 (5.6%) had the same amount of sinus opacification before and after spaceflight, and 5 [27.8%] had scores consistent with increased paranasal sinus opacification after spaceflight). Long-duration spaceflight (ISS group) was associated with an increased risk of mastoid effusion relative to short-duration spaceflight (relative risk, 4.72; 95% CI, 1.2-18.5). Images were obtained a mean (SD) 287.5 (208.6) days (range, 18-627 days) prior to and 6.8 (5.8) days (range, 1-20 days) after spaceflight. Astronauts had undergone either a mean (SD) of 13.6 (1.6) days of spaceflight on the Space Shuttle (17 astronauts) or 164.8 (18.9) days on the ISS (18 astronauts). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThis study found that exposure to spaceflight conditions on the ISS is associated with an increased likelihood for the formation of mastoid effusions. There was no association between exposure to spaceflight conditions and changes in paranasal sinus opacification. The limitations of this study include lack of information concerning medical history and mission-sp...

show abstract

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study

Iannella

Magliulo

Lechien

et al. 2021

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose To compare and analyze the incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME), before and during the COVID-19-related pandemic period, to evaluate the effects of the social changes (lockdown, continuous use of facial masks, social distancing, reduction of social activities) in the OME incidence in children and adults. Methods The number of diagnosed OME in e five referral centers, between 1 March 2018 and 1 March 2021, has been reviewed and collected. To estimate the reduction of OME incidence in children and adults during the COVID-19 pandemic period the OME incidence in three period of time were evaluated and compared: group 1—patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2018 and 01/03/2019 (not pandemic period). Group 2—patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2019 and 1/03/2020 (not pandemic period). Group 3—patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2020 and 1/03/2021 (COVID-19 pandemic period). Results In the non-pandemic periods (group 1 and 2), the incidence of OME in the five referral centers considered was similar, with 482 and 555 diagnosed cases, respectively. In contrast, the OME incidence in the same centers, during the pandemic period (group 3) was clearly reduced with a lower total number of 177 cases of OME estimated. Percentage variation in OME incidence between the first non-pandemic year considered (group 1) and the pandemic period (group 3) was—63, 3%, with an absolute value decrease value of—305 cases. Similarly, comparing the second non-pandemic year (group 2) and the pandemic year (group 3) the percentage variation of OME incidence was—68, 1% with an absolute value of—305 cases decreased. Conclusions Our findings showed a lower incidence of OME during the pandemic period compared with 2 previous non pandemic years. The drastic restrictive anti-contagion measures taken by the Italian government to contain the spread of COVID-19 could have had a positive impact on the lower OME incidence during the last pandemic year.

show abstract

Eustachian tube evaluation in aviators

Cited by 17 publications

References 25 publications

Is there a relationship between Eustachian tube dysfunction and nasal septal deviation in a sample of the Lebanese population?

Is there a relationship between Eustachian tube dysfunction and nasal septal deviation in a sample of the Lebanese population?

Spaceflight-Associated Changes in the Opacification of the Paranasal Sinuses and Mastoid Air Cells in Astronauts

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About