"Nasal mucociliary transport time and tubal functionality"

OBJECT The authors evaluated the relationship between nasal obstruction and Eustachian tube ventilation. MATERIAL AND METHOD part 1 They obstructed one nostril in 10 rabbits; after flattening of the tympanometric curves, samples of middle ear effusion were withdrawn to measure the lytic activity (4 and 14 days after nasal obstruction). part 2 The authors examined 100 children suffering from SOM and 20 control children. They carried out tympanometry, Toynbee/Valsalva maneuvers recording, mucoliliary trasport test. RESULTS part 1 In the first phase there was an increse of fibrinolytic activity, while in the second phase the anti-fibrinolytic activity was prevalent. part 2 The authors pointed out 47 type B, 24 type C1, and 29 type C2 tympanograms. Nasal MCT was delayed in 83 cases and blocked in the other ones. CONCLUSIONS The authors found a significant correlation between MCT time and tympanometry.