Does balloon Eustachian tuboplasty increase the success rate in repair of subtotal tympanic membrane perforations with resistant tubal dysfunction?

الملخص EN

Objectives : To evaluate the effect of balloon Eustachian tuboplasty on the results of surgical reconstruction of subtotal tympanic membrane perforations in cases of resistant Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Design : Prospective randomized study.

Setting : Tertiary care university hospital.

Patients : Seventy-two patients with dry subtotal tympanic membrane perforations and resistant Eustachian tube dysfunction, aging 19–51 years, were distributed randomly in two groups A and B.

Interventions : Both groups underwent underlay myringoplasty using temporalis fascia graft.

In group A, myringoplasty was preceded by balloon dilatation of the cartilaginous Eustachian tube.

Main outcome measures : Graft take rate, hearing results and middle ear pressure.

Results : Graft take rate at 12 months postoperative showed a significant difference between the two groups where it was 89.2% in group A (33 of 37 cases) and 80 % in group B (28 of 35 cases).

Pure tone audiometry results at 12 months postoperative showed a significant improvement of air conduction curves at all frequencies in both groups.

The middle ear pressure was significantly better in group A at 6 months (mean pressure : -29 daPa in group A, -60 daPa in group B) and at 12 months postoperative (mean pressure: -55 daPa in group A, -79 daPa in group B).