[Chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction in adults: long-term results of balloon eustachian tuboplasty].
BACKGROUND
Sufficient diagnostic tools and effective therapies for chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction are lacking.


METHODS
A total of 120 patients (209 ears) with chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction were treated over a 2-year period using transnasal endoscopic balloon dilatation of the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube (balloon eustachian tuboplasty, BET). A balloon catheter is inserted into the eustachian tube via the pharyngeal opening and dilated with a pressure of 10 bar for 2 min.


RESULTS
The first 12 patients (20 dilatations) had a pretreatment average tube score of 1.25 (± 1.83 SD), and 1 year after treatment, the score improved to 6.2 (± 2.61 SD). Furthermore, the pretreatment and 2-month posttreatment data of 66 additional patients (115 dilatations) were analyzed. In these patients, the tube score improved significantly from 2.21 (± 2.02 SD) to 5.4 (± 2.53 SD).


CONCLUSIONS
The initial long-term results suggest that BET is feasible and safe for the treatment of chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction.
Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Klinikum Bielefeld, Deutschland. stefanie.schroeder@klinikumbielefeld.de
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S
Schröder
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Reineke
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Lehmann
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J
Ebmeyer
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H
Sudhoff
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D004106:Dilatation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult