The Antrochoanal Polyp: Does it affect middle ear pressure?

Eustachian tube maintains middle ear pressure equal to that of atmospheric pressure and its functions is deranged due to various nasal, nasopharyngeal and palatal causes. Nasal polypi cause post nasal drip which is considered to cause Eustachian tube dysfunction. The present cross sectional study comprises of a total of 39 patients of Antrochoanal polyp with the aim to see the effect of antrochoanal polyp on middle ear pressure and to assess the status of middle ear pressure following surgery for antrochoanal polyp. Preoperative assessment of Middle Ear Pressure (MEP), revealed that, 31 subjects (79.5 %) had abnormal MEP in the ipsilateral ear, whereas 13 subjects(33.3%) in the contralateral ear to the nasal polyp. Three weeks after surgery, MEP was found to be in the normal range in 26 subjects(66.7 %) and 31 subjects (79.5 %) in Ipsi and Contralateral ear respectively. Chronic Nasopharyngeal obstruction has a detrimental effect on middle ear pressure. Middle Ear Pressure(MEP) is deranged in patients of Antrochoanal polyp, which comes back to normal after surgery, but in patients with extension of nasal polyp to nasopharynx there are more chances of irreversible damage and persistent abnormal MEP in both ears.