{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Long-term efficacy of balloon dilation of the pediatric Eustachian tube: A six-year matched cohort study.
{Author}: Gurberg J;Dean M;Kawai K;Toivonen J;Poe D;
{Journal}: Am J Otolaryngol
{Volume}: 45
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 2024 May-Jun 22
{Factor}: 2.873
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104208
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) has not been evaluated extensively in children outside of retrospective case series. The purpose of this study is to report the long-term safety and efficacy of this procedure in children with matched controls.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>This is a two-center retrospective matched cohort study. Children having undergone tympanostomy tube (TT) placement and adenoidectomy with recurrence of symptoms underwent BDET at an academic affiliated multi-specialty practice. Comparison was made with children receiving TT at a tertiary medical center, matching for number of prior TT, prior adenoidectomy, age, and sex. Outcome measures were risk of failure and the need for additional surgery. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were used to compare risk of failure.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Thirty-three Eustachian tubes were dilated in 20 patients, aged 14 months-14 years. All patients had previously undergone TT insertion and adenoidectomy. Patients undergoing BDET had normal post-operative tympanograms in 80 % of cases. Mean follow up was 6.7 years with 2 patients failing in the BDET group and 8 in the TT insertion group. Dilated patients had a significantly lower risk of failure than those who underwent TT insertion (adjusted HR: 0.18; 95 % CI: 0.04, 0.81; p = 0.03). The probability of being failure free at six years was 88 % (95 % CI: 71, 95 %) in the BDET cohort and 53 % (95 % CI: 33, 70 %) in the TT insertion cohort. There were no complications.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>BDET appears to be safe and possibly superior to TT placement in children with refractory Eustachian tube dysfunction.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>2b.