Improving the ventilation of the middle ear after radiofrequency tuboplasty of the eustachian tubes

---

Nikolov Y, M Nikolova and P Chaparov

St. Paraskeva Hospital, Pleven, Bulgarian
Chemnitz Hospital - Academic Teaching Hospital of the Universities of Leipzig and Dresden, Germany

: J Otol Rhinol

Abstract

---

Chronic dysfunction of the eustachian tube (ETD) with a disturbance in ventilation of the middle ear becomes a socially significant problem as it causes complications around 4% of the adult population in the world. As a result of the ETD, different chronic inflammatory adhesion and tympanosclerotic processes in the middle ear are developing. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the results of radiofrequency tuboplasty (RFETP) to solve the problems with tubal pathology and the otologic complications in patients with preserved membranes. A prospective clinical study was conducted in 76 patients (40 males, 34 females) with chronic ETD treated conservatively and some of them operative. In all of them, RFETP was made using a bipolar electrode, high-frequency thermotherapy (HFITT) technique and a fiber optic with transnasal access. As a result, the objective parameters of functional e-tube patency and middle ear ventilation tests showed significant improvement in 68.4% of patients after 2 mounts (74% after 1 year). The eustachian tube function can be optimized in 70% of patients after removal of pathological alteration of the eustachian tubes ostium by RFETP, which is recommended in patients with pathological middle ear ventilation

Biography

---

Yuri Tzvetanov Nikolov has graduated from Medical University of Pleven in 1982. He has specialized in Ear, Nose and Throat and has completed his PhD in 1991. He is a Member of the Bulgarian Society of Otorhinolaryngology, also of European Academy of Otology since 2001 and American Academy of Otolaryngology, Surgery of the Head and Neck since 2005. His area of development is Eustachien Tube Pathology, Diagnostic and Surgery.

E-mail: mbal_stparaskeva@abv.bg