Abstract
Objectives:
Review the long-term outcomes of cross-hatching Eustachian tuboplasty (ChEt) in patients with chronic obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (COETD), as well assess the clinical factors associated with surgical success.
Methods:
Case series with chart review in a tertiary health care institution. This is a retrospective review by the senior author of all cases of patients who had nonrevision ChEt for COETD. Follow-up period was 5 years. The curvature of the posterior cushion was modified using an argon laser to alter the spring of the cartilage, alleviating the obstructed valve’s aperture. Several clinical factors were reviewed in relation to the successful opening of Eustachian tube valve.
Results:
One hundred twenty patients, 72 males/48 females, average age 42.4 ± 2 years old, met inclusion criteria to the study. COETD patients/obstructive causes were: Posterior cushion hypertrophy, 68 (56.6%); tensor veli and levator veli palatini muscles hypertrophy, 15 (12.5%); and remarkable mucosal hypertrophic disease, 37 (30.8%). Total of ET tubes was 198. Bilateral 198 (72.2%), 55 unilateral (27.7) ET valve was seen more open postoperatively on simple endoscopy (SE) and slow motion video analysis (SMVEA). There were no complications. Mean pure tone average improved by 20 dB postoperatively; P = .015. Mean immittance changes in tympanometric measurements improved postoperatively at least 0.10 mmhos in 91% of the patients (P = .010). Resolution of symptoms was considered a successful outcome. Failure correlated with the severity of disease.
Conclusions:
A high rate of improvement (96%) was found. Therefore, ChEt is a promising technique for the treatment of COETD.
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