RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Relationship beetwen middle ear surgery and function of the inner ear is known. This problem is often discussed in determination of hearing improvement after otosurgery. AIM: Usefulness of the click evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAE) in evaluation of the inner ear function and effectiveness of tympanoplasties is discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective analysis of 70 individuals operated on middle ear problems was performed. Patients were divided into four groups of otosurgeries: stapedoplasty, myringoplasty, type II tympanoplasty, type III tympanoplasty. Otoacoustic emissions and pure tones audiometry were performed before middle ear surgery and 3 months after ear operation. RESULTS: In all established groups improvement in ABG (air bone gap) was observed. Improvement of bone conduction thresholds in the ranges of 5dB was observed in individuals with otosclerosis and type I and type III tympanoplasty. Patients with type II tympanoplasty developed no changes of bone conduction threashold after otosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Behind routine audiometric diagnostics otoacoustic emissions can be useful in postoperative evaluation of effectiveness of middle ear surgery (especially in patients operated on otosclerosis and in individuals with chronic otitis media with intact ossicular chain).