Direct Measurement of Eustachian Tube Compliance

Kaneko, Akihiro; Doi, Tadashi; Hosoda, Yasuo; Iwano, Tadashi; Yamashita, Toshio

doi:10.3109/00016489609137895

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 13 publications

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“…Of note, the cracks occurred in a region of the ET rich in elastin fibres that is thought to act as a hinge during opening [20]. A number of studies have suggested that ET compliance is an important determinant for its function, with low compliance (high stiffness) associated with OETD and middle ear effusion in adults [21][22][23]. Modelling also suggests that an increase in ET compliance may enhance active ET opening, with mucosal stiffness of greater influence than muscle function or cartilage stiffness [24,25].…”

Section: Immediate Changes-tissue Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

The mechanism of balloon Eustachian tuboplasty: a biomechanical study

Smith¹,

Weir

Prior

et al. 2020

Med Biol Eng Comput

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Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD) is a common condition resulting from inadequate opening of the Eustachian tube (ET). A new surgical treatment involves high-pressure inflation of a balloon within the ET, with the aim of dilating the soft tissue structure. However, the mechanical effects of this intervention have not been established, nor the impact of changing device size or other technical parameters. A novel experimental technique allowed quantification of plastic and elastic tissue deformation in model materials and then human cadaver ETs during balloon dilation, based on the measured balloon inflation pressurevolume relationship. Plastic tissue deformation was found to be greater using larger balloons and deeper device insertion, but increasing the inflation pressure had a more limited effect, with most deformation occurring well below the clinically used pressures. Histological assessment of ET tissue suggested that mucosal tearing and cartilage cracking were in part responsible for the mechanical changes. Balloon dilation of the ET has huge potential if found to be clinically effective, but currently there is a need to understand and develop the technique further. The novel methods employed in this study will be valuable in future laboratory and in vivo studies of ET balloon dilation. Pressures are reported in Bar as this unit is used for medical balloon dilation procedures in clinical practice. 1 Bar = 100,000 Pa.

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