Patient satisfaction in the long-term effects of Eustachian tube balloon dilation is encouraging

Abstract

Object: To investigate the long-term effects of balloon Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) from patient’s perspective and to discover which symptoms of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) benefit the most from BET.

Method: We designed a retrospective postal questionnaire based on the seven-item ETD questionnaire (ETDQ-7). Our questionnaire covered the severity of present ETD symptoms in comparison with the preoperative situation, the severity of current overall ear symptoms, and possible surgical interventions after BET. Forty-six patients treated in our institution between 2011 and 2013 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 74% (34 patients; total 52 ears treated with BET) returned the questionnaire with a mean follow-up time of 3.1 years (range 1.8-4.6 years).

Results: Pain in the ears, feeling of pressure in the ears, and feeling that ears are clogged had reduced in 75% of the ears that suffered from these symptoms preoperatively. Seventy-seven percent of all the responders felt that their overall ear symptoms were reduced. Altogether, 82% of all the patients stated that they would undergo BET again if their ear symptoms returned to the preoperative level.

Conclusion: Patient satisfaction in the long-term effects of BET is encouraging. These results may help clinicians in preoperative patient selection and counselling.

Chinese abstract

目的：研究从患者的角度来看, 气囊咽鼓膜成形术（BET）的长期影响, 并且发现BET对咽鼓管功能障碍（ETD）的哪些症状最有益。

方法：我们根据七项ETD问卷（ETDQ-7）设计了回顾性邮政问卷。问卷涵盖的内容包括：与术前情况相比、目前ETD症状的严重程度、目前的整体耳症状的严重程度、BET后可能的手术干预。我院2011年至2013年期间接受治疗的46例患者符合招募标准, 74%（34例患者, 用BET治疗的52耳）返回问卷, 平均随访时间为3.1年（范围1.8-4.6年） 。

结果：术前遭受耳痛、耳朵压力感和耳朵堵塞感的患者中, 75%在术后, 这些症状均有所减轻。所有回应者中有百分之七十七认为耳朵的整体症状有所减轻。共79%的患者表示如果他们的耳朵症状恢复到术前水平, 他们将再次接受BET。

结论：患者对BET的长期影响的满意度令人鼓舞。这些结果可能有助于临床医师进行术前患者选择和咨询。

Keywords:

• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• balloon dilation
• questionnaire
• patient satisfaction

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.