Trial reportThe journal of international advanced otology2022
Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube: A Randomized Controlled Trial with 6 Months Follow-Up.
Trial report in The journal of international advanced otology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Balloon Dilation for Chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Under Local and General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-facialePooled it
- The Global Burden of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Older Patients: Pathophysiology, Clinical Consequences, Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Perspectives-A SANRA-Based Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Systematic Review of Technique, Safety, and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundObstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults is common. The purpose of this study was to examine whether balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube can improve ventilation of the middle ear among adult patients with mild chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction.
methodsThis study included patients aged ≥18 years with unilateral chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction confirmed with an abnormal tympanometry and a retracted tympanic membrane. Patients were treated daily with nasal steroid spray and Valsalva maneuver for 2 months. If Eustachian tube dysfunction persisted, they were enrolled in the study and randomized to balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube or control. All patients underwent otomicroscopy, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry and the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7. Follow-up visits were completed at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.
resultsIn total, 24 patients completed the study (13 balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube, 11 control). The balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube group showed normalization from retraction or serous otitis media in 9 out of 13 patients (P = .0006) compared to 0 out of 11 patients in the control group. In the balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube group, 9 out of 13 patients showed an improvement in tympanometry from B to C/A or from C to A (P = .04) compared to 3 out of 11 patients in the control group. The audiometric data showed no difference (P = .38). There was no significant difference in mean Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 score between the two groups (P = .35). In the balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube group, 69% answered that they had benefitted from the treatment.
conclusionThe procedure is feasible and no complications were reported. The study indicates that balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube may be a beneficial treatment in a selected group of adult patients with mild chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction.
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