If you frequently experience ear pressure, muffled hearing, or a feeling of fullness in your ears that doesn’t go away, you may have eustachian tube dysfunction. This problem affects about 1% of adults but as many as 40% of children. While many cases resolve on their own, persistent eustachian tube trouble can interfere with your daily life.
Conrad Kyle McCutcheon, MD, FACS, often treats eustachian tube dysfunction with eustachian tube balloon dilation in our Houston, Texas, office. This is a nonsurgical procedure that improves the function of your eustachian tubes.
Are you a good candidate? The only way to know for sure is through a comprehensive exam at Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing to confirm the source of your symptoms and determine your next steps.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about eustachian tube balloon dilation.
Your eustachian tubes are small passages that link your middle ear to the back of your throat. They open and close to equalize pressure and drain fluid from your ears. You’ve probably experienced these tubes at work when your ears pop on an airplane or if you dive into the deep end of a pool.
When these tubes become blocked or don’t function properly — whether that’s from allergies, sinus infections, colds, smoking, and chronic inflammation — you may experience symptoms such as:
While mild cases often resolve with decongestants or nasal sprays, chronic or severe eustachian tube dysfunction may require a more advanced treatment, such as balloon dilation.
This minimally invasive procedure is designed to restore proper function to your eustachian tubes. Dr. McCutcheon performs dilation under local anesthetic using the ACCLARENT AERA® Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation System.
During the procedure, he inserts a small, flexible balloon catheter through your nose and into your eustachian tube. Once the balloon is in place, he gently inflates it to open and stretch the tube. He leaves the balloon in place for about two minutes before removing it.
Because the balloon stretches your eustachian tube, you experience better drainage and pressure regulation. This procedure is effective and free from any serious complications reported, incisions, or sutures.
Dr. McCutcheon may recommend this procedure if you:
Eustachian tube balloon dilation may not be suitable for you if you have active infections, structural abnormalities affecting your eustachian tubes, or severe ear damage or complications that require different surgical interventions.
The good news? You don’t have to determine all of this on your own. Dr. McCutcheon conducts a comprehensive exam, reviews your symptoms, and determines if a balloon dilation is right for you.
If you struggle with chronic ear pressure, hearing difficulties, or frequent ear infections, visit us at Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing for expert care. You can reach us at 281-822-3777 or via our online appointment request system.
