[Morphological changes in the epithelium of the auditory tube with prolonged respiratory support in children of the first year of life].

Objective: To analyze the condition of the epithelium of the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube in premature and full-term infants with prolonged respiratory support using noninvasive assisted ventilation (continuous positive airway pressure - CPAP) and artificial lung ventilation (ventilator).

Material and methods: All the obtained material is distributed relative to the gestation period into the main and control groups. The main group (25 children) is represented by premature and full-term live-born children who were on respiratory support for a period of several hours to 2 months, the average gestation period of which was 30 weeks and 40 weeks, respectively. The control group (8 children) is represented by stillborn newborns with an average gestation period of 28 weeks. The study was conducted posthumously.

Results: Prolonged use of respiratory support in premature and full-term children, regardless of the type (CPAP or ventilator), leads to a violation of the row of cilia of the ciliated epithelium, various inflammatory processes, as well as to the expansion of the ducts of the mucous glands of the epithelium of the auditory tube, which affects its drainage system.

Conclusion: Prolonged respiratory support causes destructive changes in the epithelium of the auditory tube, which make it difficult to evacuate the mucous discharge from the tympanic cavity. This negatively affects the ventilation function of the auditory tube and in the future may lead to the development of chronic exudative otitis media.