Otovent

What is glue ear or Otitis media ?

The ear is divided into three parts, the outer ear canal, the middle ear space (where the infections occur) and the inner ear where the nerves and balance center are located. A thin eardrum (the tympanic membrane) divides the outer ear from the middle ear. The middle ear is also connected to the back of the nose via the Eustachian tube.

If the Eustachian tube becomes blocked- usually due to a common cold-the middle ear will be fill with fluid rather than air. After a while this fluid can become thick and glue like. With glue ear your child will not be able to hear properly. Glue ear is very common, as many as 8 out of 10 children will experience it at least once before they are 10 years old.

Otitis media with effusion (OME)

OME or Glue ear is a very common condition that affects 80 percent of children at some point during their childhood. Also known as secretory otitis media, otitis media with effusion or serous otitis media, more than 7 in 10 children have at least one episode of glue ear before they are 4 years old, and boys are more commonly affected than girls.1

Otovent^® both regulates and prevents

Otovent^® is the only clinically effective, non surgical for glue ear. Regulation of the pressure in the middle ear is a known and important mechanism in the treatment of disorders in the middle ear in children. Normally, the pressure in the middle ear is equalized by swallowing or yawning. If the mechanisms for regulating negative pressure are not fully effective, after a few weeks gluey secretions develops, leading to hearing impairment.

Otovent^® is a proven first-line treatment option in which up to 50 percent of patients can avoid the insertion of tympanoplasty tubes.

Otovent^® Method

The Otovent^® method is a clinically proven first-line treatment option to help avoid the surgical insertion of tube into the eardrum. It is a non surgical, drug free treatment for glue ear, and has been recommended by ENT specialists for the last 20 years.

The child inflates a small balloon using their nose, and at the same time equalizes the pressure and relieves the symptoms in the middle ear. Blowing up the balloon helps to open up the Eustachian tube, making it easier for fluid to drain from the middle ear.

Children can use Otovent^® at home under parental supervision. It is painless, harmless and takes only a matter of seconds to perform. Otovent^®should be used 2-3 times daily until all the fluid has been drained away.

A two-phase method

Using a nose piece and balloon, a positive pressure
is generated in the nasopharynx to equalize the negative pressure in the middle ear via the Eustachian tube. Children view blowing up the balloon as a game, improving compliance and ease of treatment. No negative effects have been reported or demonstrated in clinical trials.

The Otovent^® method can be divided into two phases; inflation phase and deflation phase.

1. Inflation phase: induction of the Valsalva manoeuvre (forced expiration against a closed airway) increases the pressure within the nasopharynx. Equalization of the middle ear may occur at this stage.
2. Deflation phase : induction of the Politzer manoeuvre (inflating the middle ear while swallowing) inward moving air flows into the middle ear (Eustachian tube opened while swallowing) to equalize the middle ear pressure.

The Otovent^® method induces auto inflation of the middle ear by combining two clinically proven treatment techniques (Valsalva and Politzer).