Eustachian tube dysfunction in sleep apnea patients and improvements afforded by continuous positive airway pressure therapy

• Published in: Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology 2021-05, Vol.87 (3), p.333-337
• Main Authors: Cayir, Serkan, Hizli, Omer, Kayabasi, Serkan, Yildirim, Guven
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Continuous positive airway pressure; Middle ear pressure; Original; OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY; Sleep apnea; Tympanometry
• ISSN: 1808-8694; 1808-8686; 1808-8686
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2020.02.003

Upper airway resistance may accompany eustachian dysfunction and alter middle ear pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. To investigate effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and continuous positive airway pressure treatment on eustachian tube functions. Forty-two mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients, 45 moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients, 47 severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with continuous positive airway pressure therapy, 32 severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients without continuous positive airway pressure therapy, and 88 individuals without sleep apnea (controls) were included. Tympanometric parameters of groups were compared. Right middle ear pressures in mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome groups did not differ significantly from that of control group (p = 0.93 and p = 0.55), as was also true of the left middle ear pressures (p = 0.94 and p = 0.86). Right middle ear pressure was significantly higher in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome groups than in the control group, as was the left middle ear pressure (p