Optimal Eustachian Tube Plugging Method for Patulous Eustachian Tube Disorder

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Patulous Eustachian tube disorder (PET) presents significant challenges due to abnormal Eustachian tube patency.
• Eustachian tube plugging is a surgical intervention, but optimal techniques require further definition.
• Key variables include surgical positioning (sitting vs. supine) and plug material (silicone vs. angiocatheter).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and safety of Eustachian tube plugging for PET.
• To compare outcomes based on surgical position (sitting vs. supine).
• To evaluate the impact of different plug materials (silicone vs. angiocatheter).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 50 ears from 42 patients undergoing Eustachian tube plugging (May 2019 - May 2025).
• Outcomes and complications were evaluated up to 3 months post-surgery.
• Surgical position and plug material were key comparative factors.

Main Results:

• Overall complete remission (CR) rate was 70.0%, with 88.0% experiencing clinical improvement.
• The sitting position yielded a higher CR rate (80.0%) versus supine (60.0%).
• Angiocatheters showed effectiveness but had a higher risk of extrusion; no tympanic membrane perforations occurred.

Conclusions:

• Sitting-position surgery may enhance CR rates in PET patients, potentially due to real-time symptom feedback.
• While effective, angiocatheters present an extrusion risk, suggesting careful material selection.
• Eustachian tube plugging is a viable and safe procedure for managing PET.