[Eustachian tube balloon dilation in eustachian tube dysfunction related diseases]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) encompasses various ear conditions, including otitis media with effusion and symptomatic ETD.
• Obstructive ETD significantly impacts quality of life, necessitating effective treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Eustachian tube balloon dilation (ETBD) in managing obstructive ETD and associated middle ear pathologies.
• To assess symptom improvement and functional outcomes following ETBD.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of patients with otitis media with effusion (20 ears) and symptomatic ETD (30 ears) underwent ETBD.
• Tubomanometry (TMM) confirmed obstructive ETD in all participants.
• Outcomes were assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for symptoms, TMM, and middle ear effusion status.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in ear fullness and muffled hearing within one week post-ETBD (P < 0.05).
• High effective rates observed: 96.6% for symptomatic ETD and 95.0% for otitis media with effusion.
• Improved Eustachian tube function and no recurrence within a six-month follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• ETBD demonstrates good short-term efficacy for obstructive ETD and related middle ear dysfunction.
• ETBD presents a promising therapeutic approach for various Eustachian tube related diseases.