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CC BY 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 28(01): e76-e82
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1767804
Original Research

Prospective Evaluation of the Efficacy of Isolated Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty: Short- and Medium-term Follow-up Results Based on Tubomanometry, ETDQ-7, Tympanometry, and Valsalva Maneuver

Cátia Azevedo 
1   Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Filipa Moreira 
1   Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
António Fontes Lima 
1   Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Fernando Milhazes Mar 
1   Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Sérgio Vilarinho 
1   Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
,
Luís Dias 
1   Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
Funding None to declare.
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Abstract

Introduction Balloon eustachian tuboplasty (BET) allows the treatment of the main etiology of eustachian tube disfunction (ETD).

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of isolated BET, through objective and subjective results, in the short and medium term, in patients with chronic obstructive ETD.

Methods Adult patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive ETD who underwent BET between January 2018 and December 2020 were enrolled in the study. We performed a prospective observational study of BET efficacy, by comparing subjective data, based on the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7), and objective data, obtained by tympanometry, objective Valsalva maneuver and tubomanometry, prior to BET with these outcome tools on postprocedure follow-up.

Results In total, 30 BETs were performed and analyzed. There were no complications with the procedure. Analysis of BET efficacy was performed in the short-term (average of 7.5 weeks) and in the medium-term (average of 8 months). There was a significant reduction (p < 0.0001) in the total ETDQ-7 score from baseline to both follow-up periods. A normalization of the ETDQ-7 score was observed in 60 and 83.3% of the performed procedures, in the short- and medium-term, respectively. In tubomanometry, we verified a significant improvement (p < 0.0001) at all pressures, with a normalization of tubomanometry values in 53.3% and 43.3% of cases in the short- and medium-term, respectively. Tympanogram normalization occurred in 71.4% of patients with abnormal preoperative assessments.

Conclusion As an isolated procedure, BET results in significant improvements in symptomatology and objective metric results. This, associated with its safety profile, currently makes BET the most indicated therapeutic option in refractory obstructive ETD.

Keywords

eustachian tube - acoustic impedance tests - eustachian tube surgery


Publication History

Received: 27 June 2022

Accepted: 03 November 2022

Article published online:
19 September 2023

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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