[BALLOON DILATION OF THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE - THE EXPERIENCE ESTABLISHED IN HILLEL YAFFE MEDICAL CENTER].

INTRODUCTION

The Eustachian tube ventilates the middle ear while keeping pathogens out. Obstructive dysfunction of the Eustachian tube is a common complaint, manifested by the inability to equilibrate middle ear pressure. Middle ear sequelae include inflammation, tympanic membrane retraction and rarely cholesteatoma. Balloon dilation is a new procedure for treating obstructive dysfunction of the Eustachian tube.

OBJECTIVES

This research evaluates the outcome of balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) performed at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center and compares results with those reported in global publications.

METHODS

Patients indicating that ear pressure had significantly impacted their quality of life were recruited. Most received a conductive hearing loss audiogram and either a B or C tympanogram. BDET was performed. A 12-month follow-up survey was conducted, including an ETDQ7 questionnaire and repeat audiograms and tympanograms.

RESULTS

A total of 16 patients were recruited and 24 BDETs were conducted. Aside from one patient, who received ambulatory treatment for subcutaneous emphysema, no patients had BDET complications; average ETDQ7 scores improved from 25.9 (n=20) to 15.3 (n=9) 12 months post-op. (P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

BDET is a safe procedure and benefits those who suffer from an obstructed Eustachian tube. A comprehensive literature review also concludes that BDET is safe, that it relieves the obstructive Eustachian tube and is superior to conservative treatments. BDET is increasingly being used on a global scale and the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center is applying it in Israel.