Office-based Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube

Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) is a safe, effective office-based procedure for treating chronic obstructive and barochallenge-induced Eustachian tube dysfunction. Performed under local anesthesia in minutes, it offers a cost-effective alternative to the operating room. Success depends on careful patient selection, thorough preoperative workup, and appropriate anesthetic protocols, including topical and injectable agents to manage pain, vasovagal responses, and barometric pressure changes. Angled endoscopes improve outcomes by ensuring accurate balloon placement. Complications are generally minor and self-limiting, though rare serious events have been reported. With appropriate technique, BDET can reliably improve both objective and subjective patient outcomes.