Normative ranges of tympanometric measurements in cats

Abstract

Middle ear diseases are common in cats. The aim of this study was to determine the normative tympanometric data of cats. Tympanometry, which provides objective data in the examination of the middle ear in humans, can be used as a supplementary examination, especially in cats with middle ear diseases where the external ear canal is normal. In this study, 30 healthy ears belonging to 15 cats which were classified as ASA-I (American Society of Anesthesiologyist) were determined and evaluated according to equivalent ear canal volume (V ea ), static acoustic admittance [Y tm (compliance)], tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) and gradient values under general anesthesia. Tympanometric measurements obtained from right and left ears were 0.61 ± 0.12 ml and 0.60 ± 0.12 ml V ea , 0.31 ± 0.11 ml and 0.31 ± 0.11 ml Y tm , -11.2 ± 26.9 daPa and -14.9 ± 29.2 daPa TPP, 0.19 ± 0.11 ml and 0.24 ± 0.18 ml gradient respectively.Tympanometry as a supplementary examination is an easy to perform test in healthy cats with consistent results. It has the advantages of being completed in a short time, easy evaluation and providing information about middle ear without advanced imaging techniques. Results of this study represents the normative tympanometric measurements of cats which can be helpful distinguishing normal and abnormal conditions. Further studies needed to present exact values of standart tympanometric measurements and to introduce other variables like acustic refleks, wideband and multifrequency tympanometric results.