Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Eustachian tube function in patients with inner ear disorders

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction on the inner ear fluid pressure and thus on the inner ear function in Meniere’s disease has been discussed controversially. So far, most of the studies examining ET function in inner ear disorders indirectly analyzed ET function by tympanometric methods. The present study directly studied ET function in inner ear disorders by sonotubometry. Healthy subjects and patients with Meniere’s disease, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, cholesteatoma and chronic suppurative otitis media were examined by sonotubometry. Mean increase of sound pressure intensity (dB) and mean duration of sound pressure increase (s) were analyzed. Highest mean increase of sound pressure intensity was seen in healthy subjects when using >5 dB peaks (11.6 ± 0.7 dB) and >0 dB peaks (9.6 ± 0.6 dB). Comparative analysis including bilateral ears showed decreased ET function in patients with cholesteatoma (p = 0.002) and in patients with Meniere’s disease (p = 0.003) when using >0 dB peaks. Examination of each specific ET opening maneuver showed impaired ET function in pathological ears of patients with cholesteatoma and with Meniere’s disease, during yawning (p = 0.001; p < 0.001), dry swallowing (p = 0.010; p = 0.049), Toynbee maneuver (p = 0.033; p = 0.032) and drinking (p = 0.044; p = 0.027). Mild ET dysfunction is detected in patients with Meniere’s disease by direct sonotubometric assessment of ET function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tumarkin A (1966) Thoughts on the treatment of labyrinthopathy. J Laryngol Otol 80:1041–1053

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lall M (1996) Meniere’s disease and the grommet (a survey of its therapeutic effects). J Laryngol Otol 83:787–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Montandon P, Guillemin P, Häusler R (1988) Prevention of vertigo in Ménière’s syndrome by means of transtympanic ventilation tubes. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 50:377–381

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Maier W, Ross U, Fradis M, Richter B (1997) Middle ear pressure and dysfunction of the labyrinth: is there a relationship? Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 106:478–482

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hall MC, Brackmann DE (1997) Eustachian tube blockage and Meniere’s disease. Arch Otolaryngol 103:355–357

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ingelstedt S, Ivarsson A, Tjernström O (1976) Immediate relief of symptoms during acute attacks of Meniere’s disease, using a pressure chamber. Acta Otolaryngol 82:368–378

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cinnamond MJ (1975) Eustachian tube function in Meniere’s disease. J Laryngol Otol 89:57–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Forquer BD, Brackmann DE (1980) Eustachian tube dysfunction and Meniere’s disease: a report of 341 cases. Am J Otol 1:160–162

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Politzer A.1869 (1908) Cited by Politzer A. In: Lehrbuch der Ohrenheilkunde. 5. Stuttgart: F. Enke, Auflage, vol 1

  10. Virtanen H (1978) Sonotubometry. An acoustical method for objective measurement of auditory tubal opening. Acta Otolaryngol 86:93–103

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Meniere’s disease. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Foundation, Inc. (1995) Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 113:181–5

    Google Scholar 

  12. Di Martino EF, Thaden R, Antweiler C, Reineke T, Westhofen M, Beckschebe J, Vorländer M, Vary P (2007) Evaluation of Eustachian tube function by sonotubometry: results and reliability of 8 kHz signals in normal subjects. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264:231–236

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Heermann J (1988) Unilateral patulous eustachian tube with tinnitus, inner ear damage, vertigo and sudden deafness–collagen injection. HNO 36:13–15

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Robinson PJ, Hazell JW (1989) Patulous eustachian tube syndrome: the relationship with sensorineural hearing loss. Treatment by eustachian tube diathermy. J Laryngol Otol 103:739–742

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Maier W, Hauser R, Münker G (1992) Eustachian tube function in sudden hearing loss and in healthy subjects. J Laryngol Otol 106:322–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Iwano T, Kinoshita T, Hamada E, Ushiro K, Yamashita T, Kumazawa T (1991) Sensation of ear fullness caused by eustachian tube dysfunctions. Auris Nasus Larynx 18:343–349

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Franz B, Anderson C (2007) The potential role of joint injury and eustachian tube dysfunction in the genesis of secondary Ménière’s disease. Int Tinnitus J 13:132–137

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hofman R, Segenhout JM, Albers FW, Wit HP (2005) The relationship of the round window membrane to the cochlear aqueduct shown in three-dimensional imaging. Hear Res 209:19–23

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Feijen RA, Segenhout JM, Albers FW, Wit HP (2004) Cochlear aqueduct flow resistance depends on round window membrane position in guinea pigs. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 5:404–410

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Carlborg B, Densert B, Densert O (1982) Functional patency of the cochlear aqueduct. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 91:209–215

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Di Martino EF, Nath V, Telle A, Antweiler C, Walther LE, Vary P (2010) Evaluation of Eustachian tube function with perfect sequences: technical realization and first clinical results. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 267:367–374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Jonas J.-H. Park, Inger Luedeke, Kerstin Luecke, Oliver Emmerling & Martin Westhofen

Authors
  1. Jonas J.-H. Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Inger Luedeke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kerstin Luecke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Oliver Emmerling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Martin Westhofen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonas J.-H. Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Park, J.JH., Luedeke, I., Luecke, K. et al. Eustachian tube function in patients with inner ear disorders. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 270, 1615–1621 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2143-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2143-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation