Jörgen Holmquist MD, PhD.

University of Goteborg

Göteborg, SWEDEN

There is general agreement that proper Eustachian tube (ET) function is a prerequisite for success after tympanoplasty. Otosurgeons frequently blame the ET when they experience failures in myringoplasty as well as poor hearing gain after ossiculoplasty. In our institution we have been using the air pressure swallow test since early 1970 to evaluate ET function in ears before surgery. The relation between ET-function and healing alter tympanoplasty we analyzed in many reports.

In this instruction course I like to shortly review these reports and based on these data present our current policy in surgery of ears with dysfunction of the ET.