Transtympanic Tripod-shaped Angiocatheter Insertion for Patients With Intractable Patulous Eustachian Tube.

Objective: Despite the efforts to treat patients with patulous Eustachian tube (PET), intractable symptoms of PET may require surgical intervention. In this study, we introduce our surgical technique of "transtympanic tripod-shaped angiocatheter" (TTA) insertion and evaluate the safety and efficacy of the procedure in patients with intractable PET.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: Thirty-two cases (26 patients) diagnosed with intractable PET between the years 2011 and 2019 were included in this study.

Intervention: All cases were surgically treated with TTA insertion.

Main Outcome Measures: The clinical characteristics, surgical results, complication rates, and the level of satisfaction by questionnaires were analyzed for evaluation.

Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was 40.9 ± 19.5 years, with slight male gender predominance (59.4% vs. 40.6%). Both ears were operated in six patients, simultaneously in three. All patients successfully received the insertion of TTA, with no immediate complication. Eleven cases were re-inserted after the first insertion due to the recurrence of symptoms or spontaneous extrusion of TTA. No major complications were observed during the follow-up period of 1 to 115 months (mean 37.7 mo). The average Visual Analogue Scale score of PET symptoms was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), along with 92% of patients with relief from autophony symptoms.

Conclusions: TTA insertion is a relatively simple procedure that can be performed in a short period under local anesthesia. Surgical intervention of TTA insertion for patients with intractable PET symptoms seems promising with a high success rate.