Experimental induction of secretory and purulent otitis media by the surgical obstruction of the eustachian tube in dogs

Secretory and purulent otitis media developed after the surgical obstruction of the eustachian tube in dogs. On 3 days after the obstruction, secretory otitis media alone was induced without regard of presence of aerobes in middle ear fluid. On 10 and 15–20 days, two types of otitis media were induced; in the secretory type aerobes were hardly detected, and in the purulent type a considerable number of various species of aerobes were detected. The present results suggest that the eustachian tube obstruction readily generates secretory otitis media and, when aerobes are present in the middle ear, the otitic condition may develop to purulent otitis media.