About the Treatment Method
Eustachian Tube Surgery
Chronic allergies, frequent upper respiratory tract infections, adenoid enlargement, or severe reflux constantly swell the mucosal tissue in the nasopharynx (edema), causing this tiny canal to narrow and blocking the passage of air.
It is usually performed under mild general anesthesia. The surgeon enters from the back of the nose (nasopharynx) with an endoscope (camera) and finds the opening of the Eustachian tube. A thin balloon catheter is advanced into the canal and inflated with a certain pressure for 2 minutes. Then the balloon is deflated and removed.
An ear tube (myringotomy) ventilates the middle ear from the outside by piercing the eardrum and is a temporary solution (the problem may recur when the tube falls out). Balloon tuboplasty, on the other hand, offers an anatomical and more permanent recovery by treating the main organ causing the problem (the Eustachian tube).
The information on this page is for general health advice. Please consult specialized physicians for personalized treatment or advice.
