Postoperative course of Eustachian tube plug surgery with Kobayashi plug.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate its effectiveness and safety and clarify the postoperative course of Kobayashi plug surgery for refractory patulous Eustachian tubes.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 83 patients diagnosed with a patulous Eustachian tube who received Kobayashi plug surgery at our hospital.

RESULTS

At 1 month postoperatively, the success rate was 74.0 %; at 3 months, it was 67.1 %; at 6 months, it was 65.0 %; and at 12 months it was 65.2 %. At 6 months, otitis media with effusion (OME) was observed in 12.5 % of cases, and residual tympanic membrane perforation was observed in 5.0 %. Ventilation tube placement was performed in 10 cases, and eight cases required revision surgery. During the course, plugs were removed in four cases. Median values of patulous Eustachian Tube Handicap Inventory-10 (PHI-10) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were 14, 16, 16, and 20, respectively. PHI-10 significantly improved at all the time points after surgery than before surgery (median 33).

CONCLUSION

The Kobayashi plug surgery is safe and effective for refractory patulous Eustachian tubes over the long term. At 6 months postoperatively, there were few cases of OME, and the symptoms also stabilized.