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An assessment of the validity of tympanometry compared to myringotomy performed under a nitrous oxide-free general anaesthetic

  • Otology
  • Published:
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Abstract

To assess the validity of tympanometry as a test for the presence of middle ear effusion using a ‘gold-standard’ of myringotomy performed after a nitrous oxide-free general anaesthetic, we performed a prospective validity study comparing tympanometry traces obtained immediately pre-operatively from patients undergoing grommet insertion, with the otomicroscopic findings at myringotomy. Nitrous oxide was omitted from the anaesthetic gaseous mixture as it has been reported to displace middle ear effusions. One hundred and seventy-two patients (aged 1.5–15 years) with a clinically assessed 3 month history of middle ear effusion were included in the study. Sensitivity and specificity of a Jerger classification Type B tympanometric trace for the presence of middle ear effusion were 0.73 and 0.84, respectively. We conclude that tympanometry is a valid test in assessing the presence of middle ear effusion compared to a ‘gold standard’ of myringotomy performed after a nitrous oxide-free general anaesthetic.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contribution of the Day Surgery staff at Princess Royal University Hospital for facilitating the trial. We would also like to acknowledge Marika Humphrey, Chief Audiologist at Princess Royal University Hospital, for providing the tympanometry equipment for this trial.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Department, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, UK

    Samuel J. C. Fishpool, Damayanthi Kuhanendran, Dinesh Swaminathan & C. V. Praveen

  2. ENT Department, St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT, UK

    Samuel J. C. Fishpool

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  1. Samuel J. C. Fishpool
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  2. Damayanthi Kuhanendran
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  3. Dinesh Swaminathan
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  4. C. V. Praveen
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Correspondence to Samuel J. C. Fishpool.

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Fishpool, S.J.C., Kuhanendran, D., Swaminathan, D. et al. An assessment of the validity of tympanometry compared to myringotomy performed under a nitrous oxide-free general anaesthetic. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 266, 373–376 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-008-0765-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-008-0765-y

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