Materials and Methods: After informed consent, 62 patients (26 female, 36 male) affected by persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction were included in the study, (age 22-78 years, mean age 42 years). After investigating patients’ case history, a complete ENT examination, oto-functional examination (complete pure tone audiometry with Weber test to confirm conductive hearing loss, impedancemeter, SOTV Swallowing-Opening-Toynbee-Valsalva test), were performed in all patients included in the study. All patients underwent balloon dilation of cartilaginous tube and ostium shrinkage using MQR.
Results: Three months after the combined procedure, a comparative re-evaluation of the pre-operative parameters was performed. Comparison of the pre- and post-operative oto-functional examinations revealed a significant audiometric reduction in the air-bone gap in the frequencies between 250-2000 Hz. The tympanometric examination revealed a significant increase in the tympanometric peaks thus indicating an increase in the tubo tympanic ventilation, with a reduction in the retraction quota. The post-operative SOTV test was possible to perform in a significant number of cases compared to the pre-operative test. The post-operative hearing symptoms were reduced in a statistically significant manner at VAS. None of the patients complained of complications or problems during the post-operative period, with absence of pain and bleeding after the operation.
Conclusion: Surgical procedures combining balloon tubodilation and ostium shrinkage using MQR was found effective for the majority of the patients and proved to be an efficacious mini-invasive and complete treatment of the tubal dysfunction by means of a combined action.
