Original article
Medium-term assessment of Eustachian tube function after balloon dilation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anorl.2017.09.008Get rights and content
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Abstract

There is at present no consensus on the treatment of obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction. In case of failure of well-conducted drug and pressure therapy, some authors recommend balloon dilation; the present study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Eustachian tube balloon dilation.

Materials and methods

A single-center retrospective study assessed clinical and tubomanometric results of Eustachian tube balloon dilation, complications and satisfaction in a consecutive series managed between June 2012 and February 2015. Indications were based on clinical and paraclinical signs of obstructive tube dysfunction despite well-conducted medical treatment.

Results

Forty-five procedures were performed in 38 patients. Improvement in clinical symptoms was assessed as 88%, 80% and 80% at respectively 2 months, 6 months, and > 1 year. Improved function on tubomanometry was observed in 81% of cases. The procedure was well tolerated, with a minor complications rate of only 4%.

Conclusions

The present findings for efficacy, tolerance and safety were comparable to those in the literature, despite first-line failure in all patients. Eustachian tube function normalized in about one-third of cases. Despite these encouraging results, true efficacy remains to be confirmed in prospective studies with higher levels of evidence.

Keywords

Eustachian tube
Tube dysfunction
Balloon dilation
Tubomanometry

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