Eustachian tube function in the rhesus monkey model of cleft palate.

Past studies showed that surgical clefting of the palate resulted in impaired active eustachian tube (ET) function and otitis media with effusion (OME) in a Rhesus monkey model. In the present study, this model was used to evaluate the effect of palatal healing on ET function in eight juvenile Rhesus monkeys. Following insertion of bilateral tympanostomy tubes and collection of baseline ET function data, the soft palate was surgically clefted to the right of the midline, and bilateral ET function tests were repeated weekly until the cleft had healed. Results showed that tubal function was severely compromised on the right side but was relatively unaffected on the left side following surgical clefting; active muscular-assisted function was more affected than the passive function; and the abnormal function was reversible with healing of the cleft.