Functional eustachian tube obstruction and otitis media in a primate model. A review.

In most infants and children with chronic otitis media with effusion, an inability to dilate the Eustachian tube actively has been documented. This functional tubal obstruction has been suggested to underlie the development of the disease. To test this possibility a variety of models using the Rhesus monkey were developed. The normal tubal dilatory system was impaired, resulting in sterile otitis media with effusion. The duration and nature of the disease was shown to be dependent on the severity and duration of the impairment in tubal function. These studies support the causative role of functional Eustachian tube obstruction in the development of otitis media with effusion and provide a series of models in which to study the etiology, pathogenesis, sequelae and complications as well as the treatment and preventions of the pathology in an animal species physiologically and anatomically similar to man.