Resolution of Otitis Media with Effusion in Adults after a Three-Day Course of Treatment with a Manosonic Nebulizer—A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Aerosol drug administration is the primary treatment modality of otitis media with effusion (OME). An automatic manosonic aerosol generator (AMSA) delivers, with an acoustic overpressure, a therapeutic dosage of a drug by inhalation of the aerosol. However, available studies confirming their efficacy, especially in adults, are limited. Therefore, this pilot single-arm trial aimed to analyze changes in adults with OME following AMSA treatment. Materials and Methods: A group of 36 patients (mean age 51.4 years) with OME underwent a three-day treatment with inhaled mucolytic and steroids administered by AMSA. Tympanometry (tympanogram type, volume, compliance, pressure, and gradient) was performed to measure middle ear effusion before and after the intervention. Results: Following the intervention, partial and complete OME remission was observed in, respectively, 29 (81%) and 14 (39%) patients. The tympanogram type of the affected ears differed between baseline and after intervention measurements (p < 0.001). Tympanometry-based normalization, improvement deterioration and no change were observed in, respectively, 34 (68%), 1 (2%) 2 (4%), and 13 (26%) affected ears. Following the intervention, we observed an increase in continuously assessed middle ear volume (∆median 0.19 mL, p = 0.002) and pressure (∆median 142 daPa, p < 0.001), as well as a higher proportion of patients achieving categorical normalization of compliance (16% vs. 54%, p < 0.001) and pressure (28 vs. 64%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Treatment efficacy was not affected by age, sex, or season of recruitment (all p > 0.05). The results of this pilot study are encouraging, however, the use of AMSA management of OME in adults needs to be verified in future studies.

Clinical manifestations and outcomes of otitis media with effusion in adult patients following Omicron infection in China

“…OME is highly prevalent among preschool-aged children, affecting at least 90% of patients and ranking as one of the primary causes of hearing loss [ 9 ]. The pathogenesis of OME in adults is potentially linked to various factors, including eustachian tube dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease, laryngopharyngeal reflux, nasal polyposis, the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and smoking [ 10–15 ].…”

Future Perspectives in the Management of Otitis Media

“…The papers included in this Special Issue of Medicina contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiology of otitis media, identify risk factors, evaluate treatment approaches, and explore innovative strategies for prevention and treatment. We received numerous submissions, and after a rigorous peer-review process, we are pleased to present the findings of four accepted papers that cover a range of topics related to otitis media and provide valuable insights into this condition [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…The paper entitled “Temporomandibular Joint and Otitis Media: A Narrative Review of Implications in Etiopathogenesis and Treatment” by Bernkopf et al [ 4 ] presents a comprehensive review of the relationship between temporomandibular joint dysfunction and otitis media. This article highlights the role of a dysfunctional stomatognathic system in the etiopathogenesis of otitis media and discusses the effectiveness of orthognathic treatment in preventing recurrent otitis media and otitis media with effusion [ 5 ]. The paper entitled “Resolution of Otitis Media with Effusion in Adults after a Three-Day Course of Treatment with a Manosonic Nebulizer—A Pilot Study” by Zasadzińska-Stempniak et al [ 5 ] presents the findings of a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of an automatic manosonic aerosol generator in treating otitis media with effusion (OME) in adults [ 5 ].…”

“…This article highlights the role of a dysfunctional stomatognathic system in the etiopathogenesis of otitis media and discusses the effectiveness of orthognathic treatment in preventing recurrent otitis media and otitis media with effusion [ 5 ]. The paper entitled “Resolution of Otitis Media with Effusion in Adults after a Three-Day Course of Treatment with a Manosonic Nebulizer—A Pilot Study” by Zasadzińska-Stempniak et al [ 5 ] presents the findings of a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of an automatic manosonic aerosol generator in treating otitis media with effusion (OME) in adults [ 5 ]. The results show promising outcomes, although further research is needed to validate these findings.…”

“…Probiotics have also led to a decrease in the proportion of children taking antibiotics for AOM [ 8 ]. Since the best management for OME has yet to be defined and recent international guidelines strongly recommended against the use of steroids, antibiotics, and antihistamine drugs, research on effective treatments for improving Eustachian tube function represents an active field of investigation [ 5 , 9 ]. Recently, there is emerging evidence suggesting that dental malocclusion treatment can play a role in preventing otitis media [ 10 ], as well as complications of otitis media can affect the temporomandibular joint [ 11 ].…”