American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 27, Issue 2 , Pages 109-111, March 2006

Middle ear effusion in intensive care unit patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation

  • Ching-Chia Lin, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
    • ,
  • Chia-Der Lin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC. Tel.: +886 4 22052121 4436; fax: +886 4 22052121 4438.
    • ,
  • Yuan-Kai Cheng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
    • ,
  • Ming-Hsui Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
    • ,
  • Chia-Sheng Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

Received 21 March 2005

Abstract 

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to explore the factors related to the occurrence of middle ear effusion (MEE) in prolonged endotracheal intubation patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

Information about the age, sex, duration of endotracheal intubation, level of consciousness, and placement of nasogastric tube was retrospectively collected from medical charts of 20 prolonged endotracheal intubation (>7 days) patients in the ICU. All patients received otoscopic examination, tympanometry studies, and spectral gradient acoustic reflectometry for evidence of MEE.

Results

Among the 40 ears examined in this study, 20 ears had MEE (50%), 14 ears were normal (35%), and 6 ears had negative pressure in the middle ear (15%). In addition, patients with conscious disturbance and those who had been intubated for 14 days had a significantly higher incidence of MEE. Nasogastric tube was not implicated in MEE in this study. No episodes of acute otitis media or systemic infection were encountered in this study.

Conclusions

Prolonged endotracheal intubation (>7 days) in adult ICU patients contributed to the high incidence of MEE (50%). Moreover, conscious disturbance and endotracheal intubation for 14 days were also significant contributing factors of MEE.

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PII: S0196-0709(05)00150-X

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2005.07.021

American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 27, Issue 2 , Pages 109-111, March 2006

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