Eustachian tube dysfunction in candidates for surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Defining the risk factors for Eustachian tube dysfunction can facilitate its prevention. It is hypothesised that Eustachian tube dysfunction as measured by the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 is associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

The questionnaire was systematically translated into Hebrew and validated in the accepted manner. This questionnaire was applied to obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients before and after expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty, in pre-set time intervals. The results were compared to those of controls from the general population.

Thirty-one patients (males:females = 19:12) were enrolled in the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome group. Mean age was 43 years (range, 31-55 years) and mean body mass index was 28 kg/m2 (range, 27-30 kg/m2). Median apnoea-hypopnea index (pre-operatively) was 34 events per hour. The questionnaire scores in expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty candidates were significantly worse than in controls (p < 0.001). Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty did not change Eustachian tube function in the long term, but was associated with additional self-limiting Eustachian tube dysfunction in the first two post-operative months.

Eustachian tube dysfunction is significantly worse in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome compared to controls. Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty is not associated with Eustachian tube function improvement.