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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
A Comparative Study of Drug Delivery Methods Targeted to the Mouse Inner Ear: Bullostomy Versus Transtympanic Injection
Published on: March 8, 2017
The impact of eustachian tube function on intra-tympanic steroid administration
Uri Chavkin1,2, Jacob Pitaro1,2, Haim Gavriel1,2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
Objectives:
This study investigated the impact of eustachian tube (ET) function (ETF) on therapeutic success on candidates for intra-tympanic administration of steroids (ITAoS), due to idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).
Methods:
Medical chart review in two university-affiliated medical centers was performed. Included were consecutive adult patients diagnosed with unilateral ISSNHL between 2012 and 2019 who were treated with ITAoS due to incomplete or no recovery following systemic steroidal therapy. ETF was assessed by means tympanometry, before the initiation of ITAoS. The cohort was divided into an ET dysfunction group (ETD(+)) and a functioning ET group (control: ETD(-)). The audiologic response to treatment was recorded at the last follow-up.
Results:
A total of 64 suitable patients [median (interquartile, IQR) age 49 (38-63) years] were enrolled. The ETD(+) group included 20 patients and the remaining 44 patients served as controls. Demographic and clinical parameters were not significantly different between the two groups at presentation. Hearing thresholds were improved significantly better, at frequencies 250, 500, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz (p = 0.001-0.040) in the ETD(+) group.
Conclusion:
ETD(+) is associated with better efficacy of ITAoS.
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