SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2025
Balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Otovent Versus Valsalva: Physiological Insights for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Autoinflation in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2026Article
- Eustachian Tuboplasty as an Adjunct Treatment to Concurrent Tympanostomy Tube Insertion for Otitis Media With Effusion: A Systematic Review.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2026Review
- Extensive Subcutaneous Emphysema and Pneumomediastinum Following Eustachian Tube Dilation and PET Insertion: A Rare Complication.World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery · 2026Article
- Gaussian Mixture Modeling of MRI-Derived Torus Tubarius and Inferior Turbinate Mucosal Morphometrics: Implications for Nasal Cycling and Eustachian Tube Interventions.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2025Article
- 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
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) causes symptoms and signs of pressure dysregulation in the middle ear, and is associated with tympanic membrane retraction, otitis media with effusion, and chronic otitis media. Interventions aiming to improve symptoms can be non-surgical or surgical, including balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube, also known as balloon eustachian tuboplasty (BET) for obstructive ETD. However, existing published evidence for the effectiveness and safety of BET remains unclear.
objectivesTo evaluate the effects of balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube in adults with obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction. SEARCH
methodsThe Cochrane ENT Information Specialist searched the Cochrane ENT Register; Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid M>DLINE; Ovid Embase; Web of Science; Clinicaltrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The final search was updated on 18th January 2024. There were no restrictions on language, publication date or study setting. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials were included if they allocated adult participants with chronic obstructive ETD to treatment randomly and compared BET with non-surgical treatment, no treatment, or other surgical treatment. Studies with other designs were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least two review authors independently selected trials using predetermined inclusion criteria, assessed the risk of bias, extracted data, and rated the certainty of evidence (CoE) according to GRADEpro. Statistical analyses were performed using a random-effects model and interpreted according to the most recent version of the Cochrane Handbook. Predefined primary outcomes were obstructive ETD symptoms, Eustachian tube function (objective or semi-objective tests), or serious adverse events. Secondary outcomes were hearing, tympanic membrane abnormalities, quality of life, and other adverse events. MAIN
resultsNine trials were identified with 684 randomised participants across three comparisons: BET versus non-surgical treatment (five trials, 422 participants), BET versus no treatment (sham surgery; one trial, 17 participants), and BET versus other surgery (four trials, 275 participants). None of the studies were rated with an overall low risk of bias. Comparing BET to non-surgical treatment up to three months, there is low-certainty evidence showing that BET may reduce patient-reported ETD symptoms (change in ETDQ-7: mean difference (MD) -1.66 (95% CI -2.16 to -1.16; I AUTHORS'
conclusionsBET may lead to a clinically meaningful improvement in ETD symptoms compared to non-surgical or no treatment (in the form of sham surgery) at up to three months. The effects of BET on ETD compared to non-surgical treatment are very uncertain beyond three months. However, the certainty of evidence ranged from low to very low, with the studies being underpowered to detect adverse events. The findings of this review should help to inform further BET research and guidelines. Future research should focus on longer-term outcomes and the incidence of adverse events or complications in real-world practice settings.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.