Functional aspects of the Eustachian tube by means of 3D-modeling.

The extent of dysfunction of the Eustachian tube (ET) is relevant in understanding the pathogenesis of secondary otological diseases such as acute or chronic otitis media. The underlying mechanism of ET dysfunction remains poorly understood except for an apparent genesis such as a nasopharyngeal tumor or cleft palate. To better describe the ET, its functional anatomy, and the biomechanical valve mechanism and subsequent development of diagnostic and interventional tools, a three-dimensional model based on thin-layer histology was created from an ET in this study. Blackface sheep was chosen as a donor. The 3-D model was generated by the coherent alignment of the sections. It was then compared with the cone-beam computed tomography dataset of the complete embedded specimen taken before slicing. The model shows the topographic relation of the individual components, such as the bone and cartilage, the muscles and connective tissue, as well as the lining epithelium with the lumen. It indicates a limited spiraling rotation of the cartilaginous tube over its length and relevant positional relationships of the tensor and levator veli palatine muscles.

Further Research Needed to Understand Relationship Between Tubarial Glands and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

The pathophysiology of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) remains poorly characterized, and it may result in significant patient morbidity. A recent study has identified a collection of previously unidentified salivary glands in the nasopharynx that overlay the torus tubarius. While salivary gland tissue has been described in the nasopharynx, the newly discovered salivary gland tissue has been denoted tubarial glands (TGs) and theorized to be a distinct organ. The TGs have been suggested to aid in lubrication of the oropharynx and nasopharynx. However, the exact clinical significance of TGs is unknown. Given the proximity of the TG to the eustachian tube, it is possible that the TGs may be related to the development of ETD. Future studies of the TGs and related pathophysiology may improve approaches to developing future ETD treatments.

An Integrated Physical Regulation Theory and Classification of Acute Tinnitus.

Tinnitus, acute or chronic, is one of the most common and refractory disorders. Acute tinnitus is a symptom that is a warning sign when compared with chronic tinnitus. Although hearing loss initiates acute tinnitus, the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus is far from straightforward. Other factors beyond the auditory system may play important roles in the occurrence of acute tinnitus. To address this issue, we propose an integrated regulation theory of the possible physical causes of acute tinnitus, and summarize a classification system for acute tinnitus based on this regulation theory to help guide clinical treatment.

The effect of concurrent nasal surgery on the eustachian tube function and myringoplasty outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Effect of concurrent nasal surgery on the eustachian tube function (ETF) and myringoplasty outcomes for the chronic perforations with coexistent nasal pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 93 patients with perforations who underwent same-day myringoplasty and nasal-septal surgery. Group A exhibited septal deviations (n = 34) and Group B inflammatory sinus disease (n = 59). Groups were compared with respect to pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs), graft success rates and ETF (Eustachian tube score [ETS] and seven-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire [ETDQ-7]) at 6 and 24 months. RESULTS: Graft success rates were 100.0% in Group A and 98.3% in Group B at 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.445). Graft success rates were 85.3% in Group A and 96.6% in Group B at 24 months postoperatively (P = 0.046), the re-perforation rate was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (P = 0.015). Although the preoperative ETS was similar between two groups, the postoperative ETS in the Group B was significantly higher compared with Group A regardless of at postoperative 6th and 24th months. In addition, difference was significant for the patients with positive Valsalva maneuver among two groups at postoperative 24th months. Also, the improvement in the ETDQ-7 score in the B group was significantly higher than that in the A group at postoperative 6th and 24th months. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent nasal surgery and myringoplasty is feasible. In addition, ESS improves ETF and thus long-term outcomes of myringoplasty for the chronic perforations with inflammatory sinus disease.

Interpretation of Normal and Abnormal Tympanogram Findings in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the relationship between objective tympanogram values and patient-reported symptoms and associations with common comorbid conditions. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with prospective data collection. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. METHODS: Patients undergoing routine audiometric evaluation between October 2018 and June 2019 were included. Participants with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, inner ear hydrops, and similar conditions were excluded. Symptoms were assessed with the 7-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire. Demographics and medical comorbidities were recorded from the medical record. Analysis of tympanometric peak pressure (TPP), demographics, and comorbidities was performed to determine associations with clinically significant eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were included with similar demographics: 101 (40.4%) in the asymptomatic group and 149 (59.6%) in the symptomatic group. The median (interquartile range) TPP was -10 (20) daPa and -25 (100) daPa in the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups, respectively. A diagnosis of rhinitis was more likely to be associated with significant ETD symptoms (adjusted odds ratio, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.23-5.63). A subgroup analysis revealed that symptomatic patients with normal TPP values were negatively skewed as compared with asymptomatic patients. This symptomatic group had a higher prevalence of rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis than the asymptomatic group. CONCLUSION: Patients with symptoms of ETD may have a TPP within a range typically considered normal per conventional standards. This suggests that the currently accepted interpretation of tympanometry findings may be insensitive for the diagnosis of less severe cases of ETD.

The Infratemporal Fossa Sign: Pilot Study of a Potential Clue to Eustachian Salpingitis.

Aural discomfort may be the result of obstructive eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or other causes. The infratemporal fossa (ITF) sign, in which a patient points to a characteristic location below the auricle, is proposed as an indicator of nonobstructive eustachian salpingitis. A preliminary study included patients with a complaint of aural discomfort who were prompted to localize symptoms using a single finger. Group 1 localized by using the ITF sign; group 2 localized deep within the external ear canal (suggesting ET dysfunction); and group 3 localized to the preauricular region (suggesting temporomandibular joint dysfunction). Findings of ET inflammation recorded during nasal endoscopy were greater in groups 1 and 2. Tympanometry and otoscopy were uniformly abnormal for group 2 and uniformly normal for groups 1 and 3. The ITF sign may help to identify eustachian salpingitis as a phenotype of ET disease characterized by symptomatic inflammation without abnormal middle ear pressure.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Cause for Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on Eustachian tube function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to OSA and GERD: OSA+GERD group; OSA-only group; GERD-only group; and normal control group. RESULTS: There were no differences among the 4 groups regarding age, sex, smoking history, and alcohol history (all P > .05). The patients in the OSA and OSA+GERD groups had a significantly larger body mass index than those in the control and GERD-only groups (all P < .05). The proportions of patients with abnormal ETS-7 and ETD-Q results were higher in the GERD and OSA+GERD groups compared to the control group (P < .008). There were no significant differences in ETS-7 and ETD-Q between the control and the OSA-only groups (P > .008). The multivariable analysis showed that only GERD was independently associated with abnormal ETS-7 results (odds ratio = 3.090, 95% CI: 1.332-7.169, P = .009). CONCLUSION: Given the high concomitance rate in patients with OSA, GERD might be an important association factor of Eustachian tube dysfunction in patients with OSA.

PREVALENCE OF HEARING SYMPTOMS RELATED TO PATULOUS EUSTACHIAN TUBE AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY.

BACKGROUND: Rapid and severe weight loss can result in the reduction of the ear tube lining fat tissue and it becomes patent, leading to symptoms such as autophony, aural fullness and tinnitus. Patients after bariatric surgery have, in theory, a predisposition to the development of such alteration. AIM: To evaluate the presence of patent tuba-related complaints in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, correlating with weight and body mass index (BMI) values, as well as demographic data. METHODS: Cross-sectional study composed of the evaluation of patients undergoing bariatric surgery through a standardized questionnaire about the presence of symptoms compatible with ear tube patency. RESULTS: Eighty patients were evaluated, 77 female and three males. The main comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension (37.5%). Fifteen (18.75%) presented symptoms compatible with patent auditory/Eustachian tube - aural fullness and autophony - postoperatively. In symptomatic individuals the initial weight was 112 kg on average and the preoperative BMI was 45 kg/m², while in asymptomatic individuals the weight was 117 kg and BMI 47 kg/m². There was statistical significance in the comparison between individuals with and without symptoms in the variables of initial weight (p=0.00000), current weight (p=0.00029), preoperative BMI (p=0.00219) and postoperative BMI (p=0.00148). CONCLUSION: The presence of symptoms compatible with patent auditory/Eustachian tube was 18.75% of the patients submitted to bariatric surgery in the evaluated sample. Both preoperative weight and BMI were lower in symptomatic patients when compared with the asymptomatic group.

Is there a relationship between Eustachian tube dysfunction and nasal septal deviation in a sample of the Lebanese population?

BACKGROUND: The Eustachian tube (ET) is considered an organ by itself due to its specific functions. An ET Dysfunction (ETD) is discussed when this tube is unable to ventilate the middle ear properly. Clinically, the patient reports usually some aural fullness, "popping", "under water" sensation as if the ear is clogged. This condition is common affecting at least 5% of the adult population. It can impair quality of life and become disabling. On the other side, the prevalence of nasal septal deviation (NSD) is believed to be around 22.83% in the adult population. Nasal septal deviation is thought to cause a decline in the middle ear ventilation according to certain authors. The primary outcome is to define the predictive value of the side of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) symptoms vis-à-vis the side of nasal septal deviation (NSD) in patients having the two conditions concomitantly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2018 and September 2019. Overall, 60 consecutive subjects (total of 120 ears), randomly seen at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinics at the Eye and Ear International Hospital, Lebanon, all year-round were enrolled and tested without any geographic preferences. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ) -7 questionnaire was used to evaluate ETD. RESULTS: A significantly higher ETD score was found in males compared to females, in those with left septal deviation compared to right and in those who have symptoms on the left compared to right side. Frequent exposure to higher changes in altitude (commute from home to workplace) was also significantly associated with higher ETD scores (r = 0.265), whereas higher Left Tympanometric peak pressure (TPP in daPa) on tympanometry was significantly associated with lower ETD score (r = - 0.467). Furthermore, 25 patients who had symptoms on the left side had also a septal deviation to the left side (86.2%), whereas 29 (93.5%) patients who had the symptoms on the right side had septal deviation to the right side (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data highlighted the importance of altitude and geographic distribution of patients especially in a population exposed to barotrauma on a daily basis like the Lebanese population. Tympanometry, on the other hand, failed to correlate with patient reported symptoms and thus needs further evaluation. The reported ETD symptoms of the patient correlates to the side of NSD.

Eustachian tube function test as a predictor of middle ear barotrauma.

BACKGROUND: Most of the cases of middle ear barotrauma in divers are due to the impassability of the Eustachian tube. The aim of our study is to compare the results of tympanometry and Valsalva part of Eustachian Tube Function test (ЕТF-test) with the ability of divers to compensate for the change in ambient pressure in a hyperbaric chamber. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 35 professional divers undergoing annual medical examination. For all subjects is measured first intratympanal pressure at rest, then after the maneuver of Valsalva with impedancemeter. Then a barofunction test (BFT) was performed to assess the diving fitness and the passability of the Eustachian tubes. It consists of divers compressing and decompressing in a hyperbaric chamber to a pressure of 2.2 ATA for 1 minute. Based on results from previous studies we are using a 20 DaPa cutoff point on the ETF test to predict Eustachian tube passability and a successful barofunction test. RESULTS: In the current study 24 divers have ETF test results higher than 20 DaPa. 3 divers have ETF test values lower than 20 DaPa in both ears, but none of them displayed difficulties in the BFT. 8 divers have ETF values lower than 20 DaPa in one ear and higher than 20 DaPa in the other. 7 of the last group displayed difficulties with the BFT in the ear with poor ETF result. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that the ETF test can be used to assess diving fitness as a screening method before performing a BFT, as values above 20 DaPa guarantee Eustachian tube function sufficient for diving activities. Values of 20 DaPa and less are not a definite predictor of the BFT results. The results of the ETF test can also be used in the usual work of an otorhinolaryngologist to evaluate Eustachian function in cases of unilateral disease of middle ear.

Role of Allergy in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) presents with symptoms of aural fullness and pressure, muffled hearing, tinnitus, and otalgia. When severe, it can lead to many common ear disorders such as otitis media with effusion, tympanic membrane retraction/perforation, and cholesteatoma. These diseases are prevalent in both the pediatric and adult population and significantly impact quality of life. The pathophysiology of ETD in the absence of an obstructive lesion has long been debated but is thought to be related to functional obstruction (i.e., inefficient tensor veli palatini muscle) and/or nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal inflammation. In the acute setting, the most common cause of nasal inflammation is an upper respiratory infection. When symptoms become chronic, however, the inflammation is thought to be associated with nasal irritants such as nasal allergens, i.e., allergic rhinitis (AR). The purpose of this review is to summarize our current understanding of the relationship between allergy and ETD. RECENT FINDINGS: Past studies are either lacking or have reported equivocal findings regarding the relationship between allergy and ETD, and the 2018 International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis has deemed the current level of evidence linking AR and ETD as low quality. A more recent study using a large adult population dataset did support an association between AR and ETD, but did not find that all cases of ETD are related to allergies. Furthermore, current evidence suggests that the use of medications that can decrease intranasal inflammation, such as intranasal corticosteroids or oral antihistamines, does not result in significant symptomatic improvement in patients with ETD. However, these studies included all patients with ETD, and evidence is lacking regarding the treatment effect of these medications on the subset of patients with concurrent AR and ETD. Current best evidence does support an association between AR and ETD; however, not all patients with ETD suffer from AR, and vice versa. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanism behind this positive association and to elucidate the cause of chronic ETD in patients without associated allergies.

Comparison of patulous Eustachian tube patients with and without a concave defect in the anterolateral wall of the tubal valve.

OBJECTIVE: Patulous Eustachian tube appears to be caused by a concave defect in the anterolateral wall of the tubal valve of the Eustachian tube. This study aimed to compare the clinical features of patulous Eustachian tube patients with or without a defect in the anterolateral wall of the tubal valve. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with a patulous Eustachian tube completed a questionnaire, which was evaluated alongside endoscopic findings of the tympanic membrane, nasal cavity and Eustachian tube orifice. RESULTS: Females were more frequently diagnosed with a patulous Eustachian tube, but the valve defect was more common in males (p = 0.007). The ratio of patulous Eustachian tube patients with or without defects in the anterolateral wall of the tubal valve was 1.6:1. Weight loss in the previous six months and being refractory to conservative management were significantly associated with the defect (p = 0.035 and 0.037, respectively). Symptom severity was significantly higher in patients with the defect. CONCLUSION: Patulous Eustachian tube patients without a defect in the anterolateral wall of the tubal valve can be non-surgically treated more often than those with the defect. Identification of the defect could assist in making treatment decisions for patulous Eustachian tube patients.

Prevalence of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in the US Elderly Population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in elderly adults in the United States and its association with other upper aerodigestive inflammatory processes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population based. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 147,805 patients without malignancy were compared to 13,804 demographically matched patients with malignancy of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) by querying the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database for patients aged 66 to 99 years between 2003 and 2011. The prevalence of ETD and inflammatory diseases among these patients was compared. Association between ETD, other upper aerodigestive inflammatory processes, and UADT malignancies was evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of ETD was 5.44% among patients without malignancy and 9.08% in those with cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% CI, 1.63-1.84). Patients with ETD in the control population were more likely (OR, 95% CI) to be diagnosed with chronic rhinitis (5.00, 4.70-5.33), chronic sinusitis (4.20, 3.98-4.43), allergic rhinitis (4.27, 4.08-4.47), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (2.42, 2.31-2.53). Patients with ETD and chronic rhinitis (1.43, 1.24-1.65), chronic sinusitis (1.57, 1.38-1.78), and acute otitis media (1.33, 1.08-1.65) were associated with higher rates of UADT malignancy. CONCLUSION: Over 5% of patients older than 65 in the United States are diagnosed with ETD in the absence of UADT malignancy. Associations between ETD and chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and GERD in the absence of UADT malignancy suggest that some patients may benefit from treatment of inflammatory disease as a cause of ETD.

Diagnostic approaches to and management options for patulous eustachian tube.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the literature and to summarize all evidence related to the diagnosis and management of patulous eustachian tube. METHODS: The present study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. RESULTS: Overall, 59 articles were retrieved and included in the analysis. Studies investigating treatments enrolled 1279 patients collectively, with follow-up duration varying from few days and up to 2 years. Eight studies reported medical treatments with intranasal saline instillation as the most frequently studied option. Other studies reported various surgical treatments varying from simple tympanostomy to invasive procedures targeting the orifice of the ET or the anatomical features surrounding it. In addition, 10 studies including 367 subjects investigated different diagnostic methods. CONCLUSION: Currently, there is a wide spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions with minimal clinical efficacy, a persistent lack of systematic guidelines, and several gaps in previous research endeavours.

Utilization of Invasive Procedures for Adult Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common diagnosis among adults presenting for outpatient care. We sought to determine national utilization and the associated cost of invasive procedures for adult ETD. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: National health care database. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Truven Health MarketScan Databases (2010-2014) analytic cohort included health care encounters of patients ≥18 years of age with a diagnosis of ETD or related conditions of otitis media with effusion (OME) or tympanic membrane retraction (TMR). Visits associated with recent diagnoses of acute upper respiratory infection, head and neck cancer, or radiation therapy were excluded. Invasive procedure usage was subdivided into nasal and otologic procedures. RESULTS: ETD, OME, or TMR was diagnosed in 1,298,987 patients, 11.1% of which were chronic. The most common procedure was diagnostic endoscopy (including nasal endoscopy and laryngopharyngoscopy), which was used most frequently in the first 3 months after diagnosis, during which it was performed in 120,971 (9.3%) patients. The most frequent therapeutic nasal procedure was eustachian tube inflation without catheterization, performed in 11,412 patients over 5 years at a total cost of $1,210,939 ($106 per person annually). The most common therapeutic otologic procedure was myringotomy with tympanostomy, performed on 56,137 patients over 5 years at a total cost of $47,713,708 ($810 per person annually). CONCLUSION: Several nasal and otologic procedures are associated with a diagnosis of adult ETD at substantial cost. Development of therapeutic alternatives should be sought to mitigate the need for invasive procedures to treat this condition.

Consenso sobre el tratamiento de la disfunción tubárica obstructiva mediante dilatación con balón / Consensus on treatment of obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction with balloon Eustachian tuboplasty

OBJETIVO: Existe una gran variabilidad en el diagnóstico de la disfunción tubárica obstructiva y su tratamiento mediante la dilatación tubárica con balón (DTB). El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar unas recomendaciones de consenso sobre las indicaciones, contraindicaciones, metodología, complicaciones y resultados de la DTB. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Presentamos un consenso sobre la DTB, mediante revisión sistemática de la literatura desde 1966 hasta noviembre de 2018, términos MESH Eustachian tube and (dilation or dysfunction), recogiendo un total de 1.943 artículos en español, inglés, alemán y francés. Del total de artículos revisados se seleccionaron 139 cuyo abstract era relevante, incluyendo 2 consensos internaciones sobre diagnóstico, 7 revisiones sistemáticas y 2 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados sobre la DTB. RESULTADOS: Las indicaciones de la DTB son el barotrauma, la otitis media secretora, la otitis media adhesiva, la atelectasia y el fracaso de una timpanoplastia, siempre que se haya podido demostrar una disfunción tubárica obstructiva crónica. La efectividad de la DTB es mayor en el barotrauma y la otitis media secretora. Hay estudios publicados de elevada evidencia sobre la DTB, cuyos buenos resultados se mantienen a largo plazo, frente a tratamiento médico conservador. CONCLUSIONES: La DTB es un procedimiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo que ha demostrado su efectividad y seguridad en el tratamiento de la disfunción tubárica crónica en adultos y en niños. Las indicaciones en las que es más efectiva son el barotrauma y la otitis media secretora

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Eustachian Tube Function in Patients with Symptoms on Baro-Challenge.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between aural symptoms during baro-challenge and the underlying measured Eustachian tube (ET) function. Two key questions were addressed. (1) In patients who have features of obstructive ET dysfunction, is there a measurable underlying difference in ET function between those who experience severe symptoms on baro-challenge and those that do not? (2) What is the diagnostic value of ET function tests in the identification of patients with severe symptoms on baro-challenge? METHODS: Patients with symptoms of obstructive ET dysfunction were recruited, with the presence of aural symptoms on baro-challenge established via the clinical history and analysis of the Cambridge ET Dysfunction Assessment, a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). ET function tests were assessed in each patient: 9 objective and semi-objective measures of ET opening, and 2 symptom-based PROMs. The tests' results were grouped by type of ET opening assessed, generating passive and active dysfunction scores. Individual test results were assessed for diagnostic accuracy in reference to features in the history or PROM-based evidence of symptoms on baro-challenge. RESULTS: Both passive and active opening of the ET was significantly reduced in ears with a history of pain on baro-challenge. Some patients had apparent severe obstructive ET dysfunction without symptoms on baro-challenge, whilst others had symptoms but normal test results. No individual test of ET opening was of diagnostic value in predicting those ears likely to experience pain or exacerbated symptoms on baro-challenge. CONCLUSION: The relationship between aural pain during baro-challenge and ET function appears more complex than had been assumed, with pain possibly related to factors other than just ET function.

Analysis on the correlation between Eustachian tube function and outcomes of type I tympanoplasty for chronic suppurative otitis media.

Background: The potential influence of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) on the efficacy of tympanoplasty is controversial.Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between Eustachian tube function (ETF) and outcomes of type I tympanoplasty for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM).Materials and Methods: 53 patients with CSOM and receiving type I tympanoplasty were divided into a dysfunction group (Eustachian tube score; ETS ≤ 5points) and a normal group (ETS > 5 points) according to their preoperative ETS. During the one-year follow-up, the ETS, hearing results, and eardrum condition of the patients were recorded and analyzed.Results: The ETS improved significantly from 2.57 (±1.73SD) to 4.68 (±2.00SD), while the mean air-bone gap (ABG) decreased significantly from 20.94 (±9.04SD) dB to 16.43 (±9.06SD) dB in the dysfunction group (p < .05). The postoperative ABG showed no significant difference in the two groups. The healing rate of the tympanic membrane was 96.43% in the dysfunction group, and 100% in the normal group.Conclusions and significance: The ETF was significantly improved after type I tympanoplasty for CSOM combined with ETD, and the postoperative efficacy was not adversely affected. The ETD may not influence the outcomes of type I tympanoplasty for CSOM.