Assessment of Middle Ear Pressure Before and After Septoplasty

Abstract Background: We suggest that nasal obstruction has a definite relationship with middle ear pressure (MEP) and Eustachian tube (ET) function. Does the surgery for nasal septal deviation have a favorable effect on the MEP and ET function? Objective: Assessment of MEP before and after septoplasty. Materials and Methods: This single-group clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery during the period from January 2019 to December 2019 at Al-Sadr Medical City in Najaf. A total of 42 patients (30 males and 12 females), whose ages ranged from 17 to 48 years, were included in this study. All of them complained of nasal obstruction with or without aural fullness. Tympanometry was done for all patients preoperatively to assess MEP. Postoperatively, patients were followed up with an evaluation of MEP and aural fullness sensation at 10-day, 1-month, and 3-month intervals. Results: This prospective single-group clinical trial includes 42 patients complaining of nasal obstruction due to nasal septal deviation. There was a statistically significant improvement in MEP and aural fullness sensation—after a 3-month period of septoplasty ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Nasal septal deviation has an impact on middle ear ventilation, which is more significant on the side of deviation, and septoplasty can improve middle ear ventilation after 3 months (12 weeks) of surgery.