Microdebrider eustachian tuboplasty: A preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate microdebrider eustachian tuboplasty for treatment of patients with eustachian tube dysfunction.


METHODS
A prospective study of 20 patients with eustachian tube dysfunction who underwent microdebrider eustachian tuboplasty (mETP) was performed at an academic medical center. Surgery involved use of a microdebrider to remove hypertrophied mucosa from the posterior eustachian tube cushion. All patients had concurrent sinonasal disease and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery at the time of mETP.


RESULTS
There were no surgical complications. Following mETP, subjective symptoms of ear blockage improved in 14 of 20 patients (70%). Mean pure tone average improved by 6 dB (27 dB pre-op vs 21 dB post-op; P = 0.013). Abnormal tympanogram improved in 11 of 17 patients (65%). Failure of the procedure correlated with severity of mucosal disease as measured by both elevated tissue eosinophil count and advanced sinus CT stage (P = 0.018 and P = 0.014, respectively). Mean follow-up was 13 months (range 3-34 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Microdebrider eustachian tuboplasty appears to be a safe procedure for the treatment of eustachian tube dysfunction.
Metson
Ralph
R
Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. ralph_metson@meei.harvard.edu <ralph_metson@meei.harvard.edu>
Pletcher
Steven D
SD
Poe
Dennis S
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003646:Debridement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000601:surgery; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology