Ultrasonic Examination of Ventilation Tubes Patency in Patients With Otitis Media With Effusion After Timpanostomy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to improve the accuracy and sensitivity of methods for ventilation tube patency evaluation after timpanostomy. New method of one-dimensional ultrasound middle ear sonography was developed. We studied ventilation tubes patency in 40 patients with otitis media with effusion, after timpanostomy. All patients tympanometry and one-dimensional ultrasound sonography was obtained at 4, 7th and one month after surgery. After timpanostomy in children with the otitis media with effusion, at 4 days after the surgery one-dimensional ultrasound sonography detected normal function of ventilation tubes in 75% patients. At the same time, according to tympanometry ventilation tube patency was recorded in 80% patients. On 7th day after surgery one-dimensional ultrasound sonography detected normal function of ventilation tubes in 85% patients. According to tympanometry the 90% patients demonstrated normal ventilation tube function. One month after surgery one-dimensional ultrasound sonography detected normal function of ventilation tubes in 92.5% patients. At the same time, according to tympa nometry ventilation tube patency was recorded in 95% people. Calculation of ultrasound sonography sensitivity and specificity showed that the sensitivity of this process is 97.4%, specificity – 100%. The statistical significance of differences in ventilation tube patency assessment is not determined. Thus, we have proved one-dimensional ultrasound sonography the sensitive method for ventilation tubes patency validation. The method is simple, requires a bit of time for application, so it can be widely recommended for outpatient network.