[Chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction in adults: long-term results of balloon eustachian tuboplasty].

BACKGROUND

Sufficient diagnostic tools and effective therapies for chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction are lacking.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A total of 120 patients (209 ears) with chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction were treated over a 2-year period using transnasal endoscopic balloon dilatation of the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube (balloon eustachian tuboplasty, BET). A balloon catheter is inserted into the eustachian tube via the pharyngeal opening and dilated with a pressure of 10 bar for 2 min.

RESULTS

The first 12 patients (20 dilatations) had a pretreatment average tube score of 1.25 (± 1.83 SD), and 1 year after treatment, the score improved to 6.2 (± 2.61 SD). Furthermore, the pretreatment and 2-month posttreatment data of 66 additional patients (115 dilatations) were analyzed. In these patients, the tube score improved significantly from 2.21 (± 2.02 SD) to 5.4 (± 2.53 SD).

CONCLUSION

The initial long-term results suggest that BET is feasible and safe for the treatment of chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction.