Nasal Valve Collapse: An Unrecognized Cause of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Abstract

Objectives:

1) Demonstrate that correction of nasal valve collapse leads to improvement in eustachian tube dysfunction. 2) Describe the relationship between eustachian tube dysfunction and nasal valve pathology.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgical treatment for nasal valve collapse from 2010 to 2011 was undertaken looking for associated eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and the effect correction of the nasal valve had on ETD. Each chart was analyzed for preoperative otologic complaints consistent with ETD and the effect correction of nasal valve collapse had on these complaints.

Results:

Forty patients underwent surgical treatment of nasal valve collapse; 37.5% of these patients reported symptoms consistent with eustachian tube dysfunction. Of these patients 87% reported improvement of their otologic symptoms.

Conclusions:

The relationship between chronic sniffing and negative middle ear pressures has been well established. Chronic sniffing creates negative middle ear pressures leading to ETD. Nasal valve collapse creates a setting physiologically similar to the chronic sniffer; thus, we hypothesize that nasal valve collapse is as an unrecognized cause of ETD, and correction will improve symptoms of ETD. This study demonstrates that patient have significant improvement in ETD symptoms related to ETD after undergoing correction of nasal valve collapse. This study suggests that correction of nasal valve collapse improves symptoms of ETD. However, this study is limited due to the retrospective design and small sample size; further prospective analysis is needed to study the effect of the nasal valve on ETD.