Learning Objectives: Long-term effects of Eustachian tube dilatation

Eustachian tube balloon dilation (BET) has been proven to be safe and effective in short-term but more information on its long-term effects are needed. We studied the long-term effects of BET on Eustachian tube dysfunction with a symptom questionnaire (modified ETDQ-7) in 46 consecutive patients (71 ears) treated in our department from 2011 to 2013. 34 (74 %) patients responded to the survey with a mean follow-up of 3.14 years (range 1.83–4.58 years). 77 % of the responders felt that their overall ear symptoms had improved compared to the preoperative situation, and the remaining symptoms were usually mild. Anyhow, the effect varied depending on the symptom. The most common preoperative symptoms were feeling that ears were “clogged”, muffled hearing, ear symptoms during a cold, crackling or popping sounds in the ears, and feeling of pressure in the ears. BET clearly alleviated these symptoms as at least 70 % of the affected patients reported improvement after long-term follow-up. On the other hand, ringing in the ears and the ability to release pressure in the ears by swallowing were improved only in about 40 % of the symptomatic patients. Overall patient satisfaction on BET was good and 79 % of the patients would choose to undergo BET again if their ear symptoms returned to the preoperative level. These results show that BET has significant subjective long-term benefits to the patients.