Balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility and safety of balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) as an option for treatment of patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction.


METHODS
A cadaveric study of 5 temporal human bones was performed. Each bone underwent transnasal balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) with computed tomography and post-dilation histology. The procedure involved the dilation of the cartilaginous and bony portion of the Eustachian tube with a balloon catheter.


RESULTS
BET is technically easy to perform. No damage to essential structures, particularly the carotid canal, was found.


CONCLUSIONS
This newly introduced method seems to be a feasible and safe procedure to dilate the Eustachian tube.
Ockermann
Thorsten
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bielefeld Academic Teaching Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany.
Reineke
Ulf
U
Upile
Tahwinder
T
Ebmeyer
Jörg
J
Sudhoff
Holger H
HH
D002102:Cadaver; D002404:Catheterization; D004724:Endoscopy; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome