Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

What is Eustachian Tube and what are it’s functions?

The Eustachian Tube is a small passageway that connects the upper part of your throat to the middle ear. It controls the air pressure behind the eardrum & middle ear space and prevents build-up of fluid & discharges. In day to day life, the Eustachian tube opens when you sneeze, yawn or swallow food. The “pop” you hear when descending a plane or diving is caused by the Eustachian tube.

The Eustachian Tube performs the following functions –

Ventilate the middle ear
Protect the middle ear from infections and disease
Drain away fluids from the middle ear
Prevent the reflux of nasopharyngeal secretions into the middle ear
Helps the eardrum vibrate allowing us to hear

What is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?

When the Eustachian Tube becomes blocked and fails to open properly, it is called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction(ETD).

Causes of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

ETD is caused when the Eustachian tubes get inflamed leading to build up of mucus or fluid in the middle ear. Common causes of ETD are –
Common cold
Ear or sinus infections
Allergies
Activities involving sudden change of altitude such as flying, gliding, scuba diving, mountaineering
In rare cases enlarged adenoids or tumors in the nasopharynx (upper part of the throat behind the nose)

Children, smokers and obese people are at a higher risk of ETD.

Symptoms of ETD

Diagnosis & Treatments

When Eustachian tube gets blocked you might experience the following symptoms –

Ears feel plugged or full
Hearing is muffled
Pain in one or both ears
Ringing sound or tinnitus in the ears
Popping sounds in the ear
In some cases, dizziness
Some children may express intolerance to loud sounds

The most commonly used tests for diagnosis of ETD are nasal endoscopy, tympanometry and sonotubometry.

After diagnosis, Dr Rao’s ENT would recommend the recommended treatment plan which would include any of the following –

Through medication –

Using decongestant sprays to reduce the swelling of the tube
If ETD is caused by allergies, antihistamines are recommended to reduce allergies

Surgical treatment –

Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation – A small balloon is inflated into the Eustachian tube through the nose to clear the passageway for mucus and air, to know more click here (takes to the surgery page)
Myringotomy – The ENT surgeon makes a tiny incision in the eardrum and any fluid in the middle ear is removed through suction. A tiny hollow pressure equalization tube may be inserted which provides middle ear ventilation for 6-12 months.

Medical and surgical treatments of larynx- related disorders
Advanced examination of larynx through hi-tech HD angled endoscopes, flexible scopes and HD camera systems, such as the pulsar II Stroboscope that can identify the minutest functional problems in the larynx
Precision surgery of vocal cords (a region very prone to surgical trauma and very critical for patient’s quality of life) using best-in-class Zeiss Vario microscope and Lumenis Acupulse duo laser for the best possible results, all surgeries conducted in state of the art, laminar flow operation theatres
Voice preservation and rehabilitation after microlaryngoscopy and larynx cancer surgeries

Meet Our Doctors

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Dr. Jitendra Patel

ENT

Dr. Jitendra Patel is one of the best Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) Specialists in Rajkot,Gujarat. He has been a successful Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) Specialist for the last 22 years. He studied and completed MS - ENT. He is currently associated with OM ENT Superspecialist Hospital, Rajkot.

0281 223 4199

info@entdr.in