Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube: How To Treat Blocked Ear

Blocked ear is a common symptom at our ENTcare specialist clinic in Singapore. Indeed, this can be very annoying and troublesome for many patients with ENT problems. Some patients report popping and crackling sounds in their ears. This is usually a sign of their Eustachian pressure tubes trying to clear and open up.

CAN NOSE AND SINUS CONDITIONS CAUSE MY BLOCKED EAR?

If you suffer from nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis), sinus infections (sinusitis) or have had a recent flu, your Eustachian tubes may not be working well. So you may have difficulty trying to equalise the pressure at both ends of your Eustachian tubes. One end opens up at the back of the nose while the opposite end opens up behind the eardrums. This leads to the intermittent blocked ear sensation which may persist after a while.

What is the normal behaviour of these pressure tubes? On a normal day, the Eustachian tubes stay closed most of the time. When you actively swallow, speak or chew, they open up for a few seconds. This leads to a balance of ear and nose pressures.

Sometimes, clicking sounds may be heard when you swallow or yawn. They are not usually a bad sign. The Eustachian tube walls contain cartilage, a soft tissue which provides structure but can also move. So the clicking comes from this tissue. No need to worry about this at all!

If medications like antihistamines and nasal sprays don’t help, some patients may have a short daycase procedure to dilate the Eustachian tube. We do this easily by inserting a small balloon catheter into the Eustachian tube opening. All done through the nose!

The balloon is usually inflated for 2 minutes and then deflated and safely removed from the nose.

WHAT ARE THE LONGER TERM RESULTS OF EUSTACHIAN TUBE BALLOON DILATION?

A recent study in an eminent ear journal, Otology Neurotology, just published longterm results of the Eustachian tube balloon dilation procedure to treat blocked ear. The study done at a top ENT clinic in America showed that the Eustachian tube balloon does help open up the Eustachian pressure tubes. Results continue to be good 2 years after having the Eustachian tube balloon dilation procedure.

For all the many patients who suffer from blocked ear and/or blocked nose problems, the Eustachian tube balloon device is a good option to consider. We would discuss it with you, especially if other treatment options have failed. It is a safe and straightforward procedure to help your blocked ear problems due to poor Eustachian tube function.

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