title: Measurement of middle ear pressure changes during balloon eustachian tuboplasty: a pilot study.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The middle ear pressure changes detected during BET can be directly attributed to the balloon inflation and may represent a second, immediate, mechanism of action of BET. BET seems to be safe with respect to the risk of a barotrauma. Further human studies are now necessary to confirm the results and gain more insight into the mechanism of action of BET.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Since the introduction of Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty (BET) as a treatment of chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction, the precise mechanism of action is unknown. Long-term effects of BET may be related to observed microfractures of the Eustachian tube cartilage. However, clinical observations indicate a second, immediate mode of action. Therefore, this study investigated and characterized middle ear pressure changes occurring directly during BET procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a micro-optical pressure sensor, pressure changes during BET were monitored transtympanically in a cadaveric animal study using heathland sheep.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Middle ear pressure amplitudes during BET are dependent on the speed of balloon inflation as well as the maximum inflation pressure. A 10-bar inflation pressure yielded a mean middle ear pressure of 5.34 mmHg (71.0 daPA). Negative pressure amplitudes occurring on withdrawal of the balloon catheter are influenced by the speed of withdrawal. No pressure amplitudes capable of causing barotrauma to membranous ear structures could be detected.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Todt
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Klinikum Bielefeld, Academic Teaching Hospital University of Münster University , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mittmann
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Klinikum Bielefeld, Academic Teaching Hospital University of Münster University , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Klinikum Bielefeld, Academic Teaching Hospital University of Münster University , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ebmeyer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Klinikum Bielefeld, Academic Teaching Hospital University of Münster University , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors.forename: Lars-Uwe
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Scholtz
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Klinikum Bielefeld, Academic Teaching Hospital University of Münster University , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sudhoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000601:surgery*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D012756:Sheep
keywords: Balloon dilatation; eustachian tube; middle ear pressure