Balloon dilation of the Eustachian Tube is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction who otherwise have very limited options for treatment.

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) can occur if the tube is too open, too closed, or if there are abnormal pressures at either the middle ear or ends of the eustachian tube. Symptoms of ETD include ear pressure, fullness in the ear, dizziness, painful ears, crackling and popping sounds in the ears, tinnitus, muffled hearing, and pain or discomfort with barometric changes (eg, flying, diving). When left untreated, ETD can lead to tympanic membrane retraction, cholesteatoma (abnormal skin growth in the ear), and hearing loss, and is frequently associated with chronic otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear). ETD is considered persistent when symptoms have continued more than 12 weeks despite medical therapy.

Balloon dilation has been evaluated in clinical studies as a minimally invasive treatment that directly treats the dysfunction of the Eustachian tube for the treatment of persistent ETD.

The Balloon Dilation Procedure entails inserting a specially designed catheter with a small balloon at the tip through the nose and into the Eustachian tube. The balloon is then inflated and removed, creating space in the eustachian tube. After dilation, the Eustachian tube opening pressure required for normal Eustachian tube function is reduced.

Dr. Patrick Hagen has recently completed a course, along with being certified, by Entellus Medical on this revolutionary new procedure. This procedure has been shown to provide remarkable results for adults suffering from chronic middle ear symptoms such as fluid, pressure, fullness, dizziness, blocked feeling, and hearing loss.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your options!