English

Abstract

Chronic suppurative otitis media is defined as inflammation of the mucoperiosteal lining of the middle ear cleft. In chronic suppurative otitis media with central perforation the pathologic process may be due to one of the three types : tubo tympanic, tympanomastoid or permanent perforation syndrome due to epitheliasation of the edges of the perforation. In our study we analyse cases of tubo tympanic type only. Chronic sinusitis acts as a focus of sepsis in the development of chronic suppurative otitis media of tubo tympanic type. That such an inter relationship exists is supported by clinical experience. In the adult population sinusitis is the most important cause of persistent ear discharge in tubotympanic disease. Unilateral ear discharge is associated with sinusitis only on the corresponding side, which is in concurrence with our study. Deviated nasal septum, medialised uncinate and enlarged bulla in order of frequency are the most common anatomical variants of nose and paranasal sinuses predisposing to sinusitis. The clearance of sinusitis has a favourable effect on improving the middle ear mucosal status. The clearance of sinusitis by endoscopic sinus surgery in tubotympanic patients results in good outcome of tubotympanic disease clearance. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery has emerged as an effective and reliable procedure for clearance of sinusitis.