[Evolution of the tubotympanal mucociliary system activity evaluated with scintigraphy, after ventilation tube insertion in adults with chronic otitis media with effusion].

INTRODUCTION AND GOALS Tubotympanal mucociliary function is damaged in patients with otitis media with effusion. Our objective was to study its situation and recovery after timopanostomy tube insertion. METHODS We evaluated the mucociliary activity of the ear and Eustachian tube with scintigraphy in four groups of adults with chronic otitis media with effusion after ventilation tube insertion. The test was performed on 3 days (Group I), 6 days (Group II), 9 days (Group III) and 12 days (Group IV) after tympanostomy tube insertion. RESULTS After excluding some patients with limited otorrhea, the percentages of patients that normalised mucociliary function in the different groups were: Group I, 0 of 13, 0%; Group II, 4 of 15 patients, 26,6%; Group III, 14 de 18 cases, 88,8%; and, in Group IV, 18 of 18, 100%. CONCLUSIONS Mucociliary function is altered in patients with chronic otitis media with effusion. With the insertion of tympanostomy tubes, mucociliary clearance is restored progressively, reaching normal after 12 days in all the patients.