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Updated: Aug 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Endoscopic Ossiculoplasty – Techniques, Innovations, and Practical Guidance for Clinical Integration
Published on: January 26, 2024
Balloon Eustachian tuboplasty for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction: retrospective multicentre cohort study of
Marta Sandoval1,2, Juan-J Navarro3, Paz Martínez-Beneyto4
1Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), C. Villarroel 170, 08036 , Barcelona, Spain. m.sandoval@ub.edu.
Objective:
To present the results after balloon eustachian tuboplasty (BET) in patients with obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD) grouped up into: baro-challenge, chronic serous otitis media and adhaesive otitis media.
Methods:
A retrospective study was carried out on patients who underwent BET surgery. As outcome measures, otoscopy, tympanometry, Eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) and ability to perform the Valsalva manoeuvre were recorded at baseline and at 3, 12 and 24 months after BET. A p value of 0.05 was used to indicate a statistically significant difference for all statistical tests.
Results:
Three hundred and nineteen ears (248 patients) were included with a 3-month follow-up, 272 ears had a 12-month follow-up, and 171 ears had 24-month follow-up. Globally, a statistical significance improvement in all groups in all outcome measures was found. According to BET indication, in the baro-challenge group, there was no improvement in otoscopy, but ETDQ-7, Valsalva manoeuvre and tympanogram improved significantly. In the chronic serous otitis media group, otoscopy, ETDQ-7 and Valsalva manoeuvre were significantly improved in all the three timelines, including the avoidance of a new transtympanic tube after the BET in over 80% of cases. In the adhaesive otitis media group, Valsalva manoeuvre improved significantly, ETDQ-7 decreased and tympanogram improved but not significantly. Few mild complications were reported.
Conclusions:
BET is an effective method for the treatment of OETD in all etiologic groups. The greatest benefit was observed in patients with baro-challenge. A long-term follow-up is recommended since the benefit seems to increase over time.
