OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated the
efficacy of nebulized bovine
pulmonary surfactant on experimentally induced
otitis media with effusion (OME) in
guinea pigs .
METHODS: Twenty
guinea pigs were divided into three groups. Four untreated
animals served as normal controls. Experimental OME was established in both
ears of the remaining 16
animals by a transbullar
injection of 10 microL of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide in saline. Thereafter, the
guinea pigs received nebulized
phosphate buffered saline (n=8) or nebulized bovine
pulmonary surfactant (n=8). Nebulization was given daily for 7 days. On day 8, all the
animals ' passive opening
pressure (POP) of the
Eustachian tube was measured and histopathological observations of the
bulla were made by
light microscopy .
RESULTS: Nebulized bovine
pulmonary surfactant significantly reduced the POP compared to that of saline nebulization. The bovine
pulmonary surfactant improved the tubal patency and produced less histopathologcally-evident edematous bullar
mucosa .
CONCLUSION: Nebulization of bovine
pulmonary surfactant plays an important
role in treating
otitis media with effusion in
guinea pigs . Our results suggest that the chosen nebulized bovine
pulmonary surfactant can be of good clinical benefit for treating OME in the
future .