Managing Eustachian Tube Disorders

In this episode, Dr. Walter Kutz joins Dr. Gopi Shah and Dr. Ashley Agan to discuss the essentials of caring for patients with chronic eustachian tube disorders. They emphasize that the diagnosis of patients with chronic eustachian tube disorders can be challenging. Patient history is often the driving factor in evaluation of these patients, but objective measures such as tympanograms can aid in the diagnostic process.

They describe in detail the differentiating features of patulous eustachian tube, a commonly missed diagnosis with a similar presentation as eustachian tube dysfunction. The best practices for evaluation of patulous eustachian tube are outlined, including the ideal set up for otoscopic and endoscopic nasal exams. They also touch on the treatment options for patulous eustachian tube, giving insight into procedure details as well as complications.

The discussion then evolves to focus on more complicated cases of eustachian tube dysfunction, including patients with atrophic tympanic membranes as well as those refractory to tympanostomy tube placement. The efficacy and challenges of eustachian tube targeted procedures such as balloon dilation are reviewed. The role of allergy evaluations in management and care of eustachian tube dysfunction patients are also considered. Finally, they touch briefly on some notes on the diagnosis of eosinophilic otitis media and superior canal dehiscence.