The eustachian tube modificatin with DFAT

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09916
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: OSHIMA Takeshi 日本大学, 医学部, 教授 (40241608)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 耳管開放症 / 耳管狭窄症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The eustachian tube is a tubal structure which is responsible for ventilation, protection and excretion in the middle ear. The eustachian tube is usually closed but opens temporarily during swallowing and yawing. The balance between opening and closing is very important. At present, eustachian tube balloon dilation and silicon plugging are used as structural modification of the eustachian tube. In this study, structural modification of the eustachian tube was attempted by using DFAT. The structure of the eustachian tube was different between rat and human. We could observe the rat eustachian tube by ultrafine endoscopy and specially-made fine needle. Moreover, we performed clinical studies and then revealed 76.1% of effectiveness of silicon plugging as the structural modification of the eustachian tube.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在、難治性中耳・耳管病変に対しては耳管機能を補完するために、鼓膜にシリコンチューブを留置して耳管の代用をさせることが広く行われている。しかし、本研究から根本的に耳管を構造的に改変する方法の有効性が示され、今後の耳管障害に対する新治療の開発につながると期待される。