Short-term effectiveness of balloon dilation in the treatment of chronic otitis media

YANG Le; GONG Pinggui; ZHENG Mingfen; ZHAO Xiangdong; LIU Yunyi; ZHANG Junjun; FAN Suxiao; PENG Hong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2016.05.008

Abstract：Objective To investigate the efficacy of Eustachian tube balloon dilation administered with middle ear surgery in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media and severe Eustachian tube dysfunction. Methods Data were col-lected from 18 patients (20 ears) with chronic otitis media severe and Eustachian tube dysfunction confirmed by positive and negative pressure balance test, Valsalva’s level of difficulty and thin temporal bone CT scan. Following failing conser-vative treatment, patients received middle ear surgery and Eustachian tube balloon dilation. Eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire (ETDQ-7), Valsalva’s maneuver difficulty scores and pure tone audiometry were performed before and 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results At 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment, sense of pressure, fullness, rhinitis or cold-related ear symptoms, earache were all improved. At 3 and 6 months after treatment, muffled feelings were relieved compared to be-fore treatment. Ear ringing and crackling/popping showed no significant change. In all cases, the tympanic membrane graft remained intact with no retraction or perforation;Additionally, different degrees of improvement on of Valsalva’s maneuver difficulty and air-bone gaps were observed following treatment. Conclusions Results in this small sample indicate that mid-dle ear surgery combined with Eustachian tube balloon dilation may yield good short-term treatment effects on patients with chronic suppurative otitis media and severe Eustachian tube dysfunction, although further observation in large groups is nec-essary to verify its long-term efficacy.