Abstract
ObjectivesThis study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) eustachian tuboplasty for the treatment of patients with retracted tympanic membrane (TM) due to eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).MethodsThis was a prospective study of 20 patients with ETD (middle ear atelectasis) who underwent MWA eustachian tuboplasty. Outcomes included the ability to perform a Valsalva maneuver, audiometry results, tympanometry results, ETD Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) score, and TM status.ResultsEighteen patients (18 ears) were included in this study. There were statistically and clinically significant improvements in the mean ETDQ-7 score at 6 months postoperatively (change in mean score of 16.7 ± 3.6, P < 0.001) and at 30 months postoperatively (change in mean score of 18.9 ± 2.9, P < 0.001).Type A tympanogram was obtained in 27.8% of patients (5/18) at 6 months postoperatively, and in 77.7% at 30 months postoperatively. A Valsalva maneuver was possible in 72.2% of patients at 6 months postoperatively and in 88.9% of patients at 30 months postoperatively. In addition, the ears of 13 patients (72.2%) showed both normal tympanograms and TM at 30 months postoperatively. Interestingly, 38.5% of patients (5/13) exhibited complete sclerosis of the pars tensa. None of the patients experienced severe MWA-related complications during follow-up.ConclusionsMWA eustachian tuboplasty is a feasible alternative to conventional tuboplasty, and can improve subjective and objective outcomes in patients with ETD for up to 30 months following treatment. In addition, this study showed that the extent of sclerotic plaque increased over time, whereas the extents of atrophy and tensa retraction decreased following tuboplasty in most patients.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a frequent problem in otology clinics that can lead to various otological manifestations and complications, such as serous otitis media, tympanic membrane (TM) retraction, adhesive otitis, and atelectasis of the middle ear [1,2,3]
microwave ablation (MWA) eustachian tuboplasty is a feasible alternative to conventional tuboplasty, which allows continued improvement of the subjective and objective outcomes in patients with ETD for up to 30 months following tuboplasty
This study showed that the extent of sclerotic plaque increased over time, whereas the extents of atrophy and tensa retraction decreased following tuboplasty in most patients
Summary
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a frequent problem in otology clinics that can lead to various otological manifestations and complications, such as serous otitis media, tympanic membrane (TM) retraction, adhesive otitis, and atelectasis of the middle ear [1,2,3]. ETD refractory to medical therapy has been treated primarily by bypassing the eustachian tube (ET) and ventilating the middle ear directly through the TM with a ventilation tube and restoring the TM to its normal contours. Recent studies have identified the cartilaginous portion of the ET as the most frequent site of dysfunction [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Balloon eustachian tuboplasty is becoming increasingly popular and has demonstrated high efficacy in Europe and the USA [10], balloon tuboplasty has not been widely adopted because of its high cost and limitations involving medical insurance in China
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
