Tube Matures
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In post-pubertal females, the dominant egg continues to develop, relying on hormones for growth and stimulation. When the egg becomes fully mature, the follicle surrounding the egg bursts, and releases a mature egg which travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus. The egg is capable of being fertilized for a short period, about 48 hours. If the egg is not fertilized during this time, it will die, and in another week or so, a new cycle of egg maturation will begin.
Patient (A 60-year-old woman) developed sudden abdominal pain immediately after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube replacement. Fluoroscopy of the upper abdomen demonstrated the leakage of water-soluble contrast from a disc-tip gastrostomy tube into the peritoneal cavity (figure courtesy of Dr. Asada Methasate and Dr. Cherdsak Iramaneerat).
Intraoperative findings of the aforementioned patient showed an intraperitoneal gastrostomy tube, and the separation of mature gastrocutaneous tract close to the stomach (figure courtesy of Dr. Asada Methasate and Dr. Cherdsak Iramaneerat).
Knowing when to change a tracheostomy tube is important for optimal management of all patients with tracheostomy tubes. The first tracheostomy tube change, performed 1-2 weeks after placement, carries some risk and should be performed by a skilled operator in a safe environment. The risk associated with changing the tracheostomy tube then usually diminishes over time as the tracheo-cutaneous tract matures. A malpositioned tube can be a source of patient distress and patient-ventilator asynchrony, and is important to recognize and correct. Airway endoscopy can be helpful to ensure optimal positioning of a replacement tracheostomy tube. Some of the specialized tracheostomy tubes available on the market are discussed. There are few data available to guide the timing of routine tracheostomy tube changes. Some guidelines are suggested.
The Eustachian tube (ET), named after Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachio, is a fibrocartilaginous duct connecting the middle ear (posterior to the eardrum) to the nasopharynx. Also known as the pharyngotympanic tube, the Eustachian tube is approximately 36 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, and functions primarily in optimizing middle ear sound transmission and equalizing pressures within the ear. Normally a closed structure, the Eustachian tube opens in response to movement of the mandible and pharynx, such as during chewing or swallowing.[1]
Structurally, the Eustachian tube has osseous (anteroinferior) and cartilaginous (posterosuperior) portions, is comprised of cartilage and mucosa, and is supported by surrounding soft tissue, the sphenoid sulcus, and peritubal muscles (tensor veli palatini, levator veli palatini, salpingopharyngeus, and tensor tympani).[2]
The anteroinferior portion of the Eustachian tube, which includes the protympanum, mesotympanum, and hypotympanum, is covered by a pseudostratified epithelial layer with numerous mucous and ciliated cells that aid in the mucociliary clearance of pathogens. The connective tissue in this portion of the ET is thick and dense.
The posterosuperior portion of the Eustachian tube contains loose connective tissue and is covered by richly vascularized cuboidal epithelium devoted primarily to gas exchange. There are no ciliated or mucous cells in this portion of the ET.[2]
The Eustachian tube develops as a connection between the lateral extension of the first pharyngeal pouch endoderm and the first branchial cleft ectoderm. The expansion of the pouch forms the tubotympanic recess, which will eventually develop into the middle ear.[3] The surrounding fibrocartilaginous tissue and muscles associated with the Eustachian tube form from the mesoderm.
During normal growth and maturity into early adulthood, an individual's skull base extends caudally, causing the angle of the Eustachian tube to change from horizontal to oblique. This results in elongation and an increased angle of the Eustachian tube with respect to the horizontal plane. From childhood to adulthood, the eustachian tube volume increases from approximately 62 cubic mm to 111 cubic mm (+/- 22 cubic mm in both childhood and adulthood).[4]
Furthermore, the Eustachian tube functions in the protection of inner ear structures. The ET links the sterile middle ear to the unsterile outside world, performing four additional specific functions.[2]
In simple terms, the anteroinferior portion of the Eustachian tubes primarily functions in the mucociliary clearance process. In contrast, the posterosuperior portion of the Eustachian tube primarily functions in gas exchange.
While the Eustachian tube is closed at rest, it relies on its interaction with two muscles to help facilitate its opening; the tensor veli palatini and the levator veli palatini. The tensor veli palatini contracts the anterolateral wall to cause dilation and opening of the distal Eustachian tube. Contraction of the levator veli palatini results in elevation of the soft palate and medial rotation of the cartilaginous lamina. Simultaneous contractions of these muscles during swallowing or yawning allow air to pass through the ET to equilibrate pressure in the middle ear with the atmosphere.[5]
The pressure discrepancy between the middle ear and the atmosphere is due to the diffusion of atmospheric gases across venous capillary cell membranes in the middle ear. Carbon dioxide and oxygen readily pass through the venous capillary membranes, creating a net pressure vacuum in relation to atmospheric pressure. This explains why dilation of the Eustachian tube allows air at atmospheric pressure to equilibrate with the lower partial pressures of gas in the middle ear that develop. This mechanism also clarifies why exaggerated Eustachian tube dysfunction will result in hearing deficits if a gas exchange deficit occurs in the middle ear, causing the tympanic membrane to tauten. Two additional muscles associated with the Eustachian tube that have not been shown to play a significant role in the opening of the lumen include the tensor tympani and salpingopharyngeus muscles.
Of note, tubal dilation is facilitated by the presence of surfactants, surface tension-reducing substances found in the mucus of the ET. It is these surfactants that aid in reducing the surface tension of the ET lumen and thus reduce the work required to dilate the tube.[2]
Also of importance in the proper function of the Eustachian tube is the mucociliary clearance of middle ear secretions to the nasopharynx. This process is enhanced as the tube matures and becomes more oblique in angle, allowing gravity to play a role in the drainage process.[6]
The diagnosis of Eustachian tube dysfunction is poorly defined, with no existing comprehensive guidelines. Diagnosis is based on a clinical exam and symptoms specific to Eustachian tube dysfunction. Ideally, a full clinical assessment should include the use of an otoscope, Rinne and Weber tuning forks or pure tone audiometry, and nasopharyngoscopy.[7]
In addition, various imaging studies can aid clinical examination in diagnosing dysfunction. One study, using real-time MRI, was able to visualize the Eustachian tube opening with the Valsalva maneuver in patients with documented dysfunction. Cases of unilateral dysfunction demonstrated normal opening on the unaffected side and failure to open on the affected side. Studies using CT imaging show a reduced cross-sectional area of the osseous portion of the Eustachian tube in patients with documented dysfunction. Another imaging study that shows promising results in diagnosing Eustachian tube dysfunction is scintigraphy, which uses radiolabeled albumin tracers introduced through the tympanic membrane to visualize the patency of drainage from the middle ear.[5]
Tympanogram is another test related to middle ear function that measures tympanic membrane compliance, with an abnormal tympanogram finding indicating increased pressure within the middle ear. Tympanogram is also used to measure the improvement of middle ear function following interventions for Eustachian tube dysfunction.[8]
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a broad diagnostic category that involves the inability of the ET to open or close appropriately. ETD is often due to an inflammatory response of the epithelium within the lumen caused by two main etiologies; irritant and infectious reactions. Irritant reactions include the response to allergens and chemicals such as smoke, while infectious reactions typically involve a viral or bacterial infection. Both processes release proinflammatory cytokines that promote edema of the epithelium in response to injury. Inflammation resulting in the inability of the Eustachian tube to open results in the failure of gas equilibrium between the middle ear and nasopharynx, leading to hearing impairment or a feeling of fullness in the ear. Whether cause or effect, inflammation of the Eustachian tube also leads to an inability to clear middle ear secretions, resulting in stasis and the potential for developing otitis media.
The anatomy of the Eustachian tube in infants and young children differs from that of adults in that the ET runs horizontally rather than sloping downward from the middle ear. Because of this anatomical difference, bottle-feeding of infants should be performed with the head elevated to decrease the risk of reflux into the middle ear space. The horizontal course of an infant's ET makes it more difficult for fluid to drain out of the ear and creates a more accessible avenue for bacteria to travel from the mouth to the middle ear space, both of which can culminate in an ear infection. After the age of six, the frequency of ear infections substantially decreases.
As previously discussed, Eustachian tube dysfunction often manifests in the setting of an inflammatory process such as otitis media or rhinosinusitis. Symptoms include tinnitus, distorted or diminished hearing, and pressure in the ear. These symptoms are typically mild and respond to actions that facilitate the normal opening of the tube, such as swallowing or yawning. Theoretically, medications aimed at reducing inflammation, which include corticosteroids, antihistamines, and antibiotics in the setting of an infectious process, may temporarily improve Eustachian tube function; however, the research and evidence for this are underwhelming.[14] 59ce067264
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