Eustachian tube scoring criteria for balloon Eustachian tuboplasty

Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty (BET) is a novel technique useful for the treatment of Obstructive Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. This article introduces new clinical scoring criteria for diagnosis of Obstructive Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (OETD) and as a selection criterion for BET.

A prospective observational study was conducted in which 14 patients (23 Eustachian tubes), with grade 2 and 3 pars tensa retractions or unresolved otitis media with effusion with OETD underwent BET. MAMC Clinical Eustachian tube score was used for preoperative assessment, diagnosis and selection of patients for the procedure. The outcome was measured using pre-operative and post-operative MAMC Clinical Eustachian tube score and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Score (ETDQ-7).

All cases (23 Eustachian tubes) who were selected for BET using the MAMC Clinical ET score (score < 4) showed an improvement in ET functioning according to the ETDQ-7 score. Around 65.2% (15 Eustachian Tubes) showed a return to normal level of Eustachian Tube function (ETDQ score < 14) with a reduction of 65.7% in ETDQ-7 score. The study also showed a worse MAMC Clinical Eustachian Tube score in patients with a higher ETDQ-7 score (both preoperatively and postoperatively).

This article suggests that MAMC Clinical Eustachian Tube score can be used universally as an objective tool for diagnosis and assessment of OETD as well as the selection criterion for BET in all centres.