Inflammation and Occlusion of the Auditory Tuba (synonyms for auditory tube: Eustachian tube, Eustachian tube, Eustachii tube, pharyngotympanic tube; thesaurus synonyms for inflammation and occlusion of the auditory tube: Eustachian tube infection; Eustachian tube catarrh; Eustachian tube stenosis; Eustachian tube catarrh; Eustachian tube stenosis; Otosalpingitis; Tympanic effusion; Syringitis; Syringitis of the Eustachian tube; Syringitis of the ear; Eustachian tube catarrh; Occlusion of the Eustachian tube; ICD-10-GM H68. -: Inflammation and closure of the auditory tube) refers to changes in the eustachian tube.
The auditory tube (tuba auditiva) is a tube about 30 to 35 mm long that connects the nasopharynx (nasopharynx) via the tympanic cavity (cavum tympani) of the middle ear. It extends through the posterior floor of the canalis musculotubarius and is named after the Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi (Tuba Eustachii). It is lined with respiratory epithelium (ciliated epithelium). A bony portion (pars ossea) can be distinguished from a cartilaginous portion (pars cartilaginea).
The purpose of the auditory tube is to equalize pressure between the nasopharynx (nasopharynx) and the middle ear. In addition, it serves to drain the middle ear. Occlusion leads to a tympanic effusion (sero- or seromucotympanum; “otitis media with effusion”).
In the following, the possible sequelae of tympanic effusion (ICD-10-GM H65.0: Acute serous otitis media, ICD-10-GM H65.1: Other acute non-purulent otitis media, ICD-10-GM H65.2: Chronic serous otitis media, ICD-10-GM H65.3: Chronic mucous otitis media) are also described with regard to “Symptoms – complaints” and “Surgical therapy“.
Acute from chronic tubal ventilation disorders can be distinguished.
Frequency peak: Acute and chronic tubal ventilation disorders often occur in childhood. Chronic tympanic effusion as a secondary disease is one of the most common diseases in childhood.
The prevalence (disease frequency) of tympanic effusion is approximately 20% in children in the second year of life and occurs at least once in 80-90% of all children under eight years of age. Adults are less frequently affected.
Course and prognosis: Acute tubal aeration disorders usually do not require treatment. As far as they occurred as a consequence of a disease, they disappear again when the underlying disease (e.g. rhinitis/rhinitis) has been treated successfully. For symptomatic therapy, the short-term administration of decongestant nasal drops is useful as a ventilating measure. A typical secondary disease of a chronic tube ventilation disorder is chronic tympanic effusion, the cause of which is bacterial, immunomodulatory and possibly allergic. Treatment is carried out according to the cause. In addition to ventilatory measures by short-term administration of decongestant nasal drops, surgical measures (adenotomy/removal of the adenoids; correction of the nasal septum) are often required. In adults, the prognosis depends on the cause. Children are usually symptom-free after adenotomy. Chronic or recurrent (recurrent) tympanic effusions require paracentesis (tympanic membrane incision and/or insertion of tympanic drainage/tympanic tubes).
