Authors: Winther, B.¹; Gwaltney, J. M.²; Phillips, C. D.³; Hendley, J. O.⁴

Source: Acta Oto-Laryngologica, Volume 125, Number 6, June 2005 , pp. 625-628(4)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

Abstract:

Contrast dye in the nasopharynx reaches the middle ear during swallowing and yawning in normal adults. This suggests that displacement of bacteria in nasopharyngeal secretion to the middle ear may occur frequently during sleep. The middle ear is sterile under normal conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine by means of CT whether radiopaque contrast dye in the nasopharynx would reflux into the middle ear of normal adults during swallowing and/or yawning. Six normal adult volunteers were studied. Contrast dye was kept at the orifices of the Eustachian tube during swallowing and/or yawning by placing volunteers in either a head-down or lateral decubitus position. Reflux was determined by the presence of contrast dye in the middle ear on CT scanning of the temporal bone. Two of the three volunteers in each group (four out of six in total) had contrast material detected in one or both middle ear cavities.

Keywords: Bacteria; Eustachian tube; otitis media

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00016480510027466

Affiliations: 1: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Virginia, Charlottesville, USA 2: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Virginia, Charlottesville, USA 3: Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health System, Virginia, Charlottesville, USA 4: Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health System, Virginia, Charlottesville, USA

Publication date: 2005-06-01

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