Cartilage tympanoplasty in the treatment of adhesive otitis media with and without Eustachian tube balloon dilatation

Purpose:To compare cartilage tympanoplasty(CT)combined with eustachian tube balloon dilatation(ETBD)and cartilage tympanoplasty alone as a surgical treatment modality for adhesive otitis media(AdOM)in terms of graft healing,audiological outcomes,and impact on life style,using Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15(COMOT-15).Methods:50 patients with AdOM were randomly classified into 2 groups:25 patients for cartilage tympanoplasty only(CT group)and 25 patients for cartilage tympanoplasty combined with eustachian tube balloon dilatation(CT t ETBD group).Clinical outcomes in both groups were compared at 3 and 6 months of follow up.Results:There was no significant difference in graft healing between the two groups.Postoperative COMOT-15 scores significantly decreased in both groups with a significant difference between the groups with regard to the decrease in COMOT-15 scores at 3 and 6 months of follow-up(P<0.05).Hearing improvement was achieved,as the mean preoperative ABG was 26.5±5.4 and 27.1±4.6 dB,and the mean postoperative ABG at 6 months was 19.4±4.4 and 14.6±3.9 dB in the CT and the CT t ETBD groups,respectively.The difference in the magnitude of ABG reduction in the two groups was significant at 3 and 6 months of postoperative follow-up(P<0.05)in favour of the CT t ETBD group.Conclusion:ETBD can increase the success rate of cartilage tympanoplasty in patients with AdOM by enhancing the audiological outcome and quality of life.