title: Endoscopically Guided Transtympanic Balloon Catheter Dilatation of the Eustachian Tube: A Cadaveric Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transtympanic balloon catheter dilatation of the Eustachian tube (ET) in a cadaver model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cadaveric study of 10 cadaver heads, which underwent unilateral transtympanic dilatation of the ET with a 3 × 20 mm balloon catheter with full endoscopic guidance and visualization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Procedural safety was demonstrated, with no damage to any essential structures found. Feasibility of the procedure was demonstrated in all cadavers with 100% success rate, despite a small number of encountered difficulties. Statistically significant efficacy was also demonstrated in both radiologic and manometric data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With full endoscopic visualization, the transtympanic approach to balloon catheter dilatation of the ET seems to be a feasible and safe procedure in the cadaver model.
authors: *Kolling Deafness Research Centre, University of Sydney and Macquarie University, Sydney †Discipline of Surgery, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney ‡Sydney Endoscopic Ear Surgery (SEES) Research Group, Sydney §Department of Radiology, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Jufas
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Treble
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Newey
authors: Nirmal
authors: N
authors: Patel
mesh_terms: D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D010865:Pilot Projects