Balloon dilation of the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 125-130 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | OTOLARYNGOLOGY: HEAD AND NECK SURGERY |
| Volume | 151 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Jul 2014 |
| Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Abstract
Objective. Studies of balloon Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) have shown encouraging results in small series with short follow-ups. Our pilot study suggested that patients with protracted otitis media with effusion (OME) or atelectasis of the tympanic membrane (TM) could benefit from BET.
Study Design. A prospective study where subjects act as their own controls. Patients from the pilot study and additional cases were enrolled in this cohort with long-term follow-up.
Setting. Regional Academic Center.
Subjects and Methods. Out of 80 patients who underwent BET, 41 consecutive Eustachian tube (ET) operations were included. Subjects' inclusion criteria were OME and/or TM atelectasis, type B or C tympanograms, and inability to inflate their middle ears by Valsalva maneuver. All patients had longstanding ET dysfunction relieved only by repeated tympanostomies. Outcomes included ability to perform a Valsalva maneuver, audiometry, tympanometry, videoendoscopy of the ET with mucosal inflammation rating scores, and otomicroscopy.
Results. All cases were dilated successfully, without significant complications. Mean follow-up was 2.5 years (range, 1.5-4.2 years). Eighty percent (33/41) could do a Valsalva maneuver postoperatively; none of these ears required new tympanostomy tubes and subjective symptoms were relieved. Tympanometry results showed overall improvement. Nine patients had persistent perforations and 3 declined removal of the tube. Subjective symptoms were not relieved for 10% (4/41).
Conclusion. The results show that BET can effectively improve ET function in ears with OME or atelectasis. The procedure is well tolerated and without significant complications. The follow-up continues and we are investigating possible reasons for failures.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- balloon dilation, Eustachian tube, secretory otitis media