Eustachian Tube Dilation
We Perform Eustachian Tube Dilation in Burbank, CA
If your ears feel blocked or stuffy or it hurts when you swallow or yawn, you may have a problem with your eustachian tubes. Fortunately, SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers offers a simple treatment to help. Our team specializes in eustachian tube dilation at our state-of-the-art clinic in Burbank, CA. Some patients report symptom improvement after treatment, although results and timing can vary. Let us help relieve your ear problems.
What Is Eustachian Tube Dilation?
Eustachian tube dilation is a medical procedure that opens blocked ear tubes. Your eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your throat, helping keep air pressure equal on both sides of your eardrum. If these tubes are blocked, you’ll feel pressure and pain in your ears. The dilation procedure uses a small balloon to gently stretch the tubes open. As a result, your eustachian tubes will work better and have fewer painful symptoms.
The procedure is also called eustachian tube balloon dilation. It uses FDA-cleared devices for treating certain cases of Eustachian tube dysfunction. Your doctor will determine if it is appropriate for your specific condition.
What Causes Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?
Some people are born with faulty eustachian tubes, while others develop problems as they get older. Several things can cause your eustachian tubes to stop working properly:
- Allergies – Allergies may cause the tissues in your nose and throat to swell, which can block your eustachian tubes.
- Sinus Infections – When your sinuses are infected, the inflammation can spread to your eustachian tubes.
- Colds and Flu – Illness can cause temporary blockages. The mucus and swelling from being sick can block these important tubes.
- Changes in Air Pressure – Air pressure changes when you fly in airplanes or drive up mountains can trigger symptoms.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
If your eustachian tubes aren’t working right, focusing at work or school may become hard. Eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms can also affect your sleep and make you tired. They might worsen when you have a cold or during allergy season. The following symptoms may indicate the need for eustachian tube dilation:
- Feeling like your ears are full or plugged
- Pain or pressure in one or both ears
- Hearing problems or muffled sounds
- Ringing in your ears
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Popping or clicking sounds in your ears
How Does the Eustachian Tube Dilation Procedure Work?
The eustachian tube dilation surgery is relatively straightforward. Although it may cause mild discomfort for a day or two, most of our patients go home the same day.
First, your doctor will give you medicine to make you comfortable. We may administer a local numbing agent or put you to sleep for a short time. Next, our team will insert a small tube through your nose. This tube has a tiny balloon on the end. Your doctor will guide this tube to your eustachian tube opening.
Once the balloon is in the right place, your doctor will fill it with saline solution. This gently stretches your eustachian tube open. The balloon stays inflated for about two minutes. After that, your doctor deflates the balloon and removes it. The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes.
Are There Any Risks or Side Effects?
Like any medical procedure, eustachian tube dilation has some risks, although serious problems are very rare. Some patients have mild side effects, such as temporary ear pain or pressure, small amounts of bleeding, mild dizziness, and temporary hearing changes. These side effects usually fade within a few days.
Serious complications are uncommon. Your doctor will discuss the risks before your procedure and ensure you understand what to expect. While serious complications are uncommon, your doctor will review whether the benefits of this procedure outweigh the risks for your specific ear problems.
FAQs About Eustachian Tube Dilation in SoCal
At SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, our ENT professionals have experience diagnosing and treating a wide range of ear, nose, and throat conditions, including eustachian tube dysfunction. We take a patient-first approach, starting with a thorough evaluation and creating a treatment plan based on your individual needs. Serving patients in SoCal, we’re here to answer your questions and help you understand whether eustachian tube dilation is right for you. Here are some of the questions we hear most often.
The best way to find out if eustachian tube dilation is right for you is with an evaluation. At SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, our ENT team can assess your symptoms and discuss your treatment options. You can instantly connect with our care team by calling our office directly or filling out our secure online appointment form today.
In many cases, insurance may cover eustachian tube dilation when the procedure is considered medically necessary for chronic eustachian tube dysfunction. However, coverage varies by insurance company and individual plan. Call to verify the specifics of your plan before scheduling.
Studies have reported sustained improvement in appropriately selected patients, but the duration and degree of benefit vary. Ask your ENT what outcomes may reasonably apply to your condition.
It might, if your tinnitus is caused by trapped fluid or negative ear pressure. However, tinnitus has many potential causes. If Eustachian tube dysfunction is contributing to ear symptoms, treating the underlying dysfunction may affect those symptoms in some patients, but balloon dilation is not a guaranteed treatment for tinnitus.
Local anesthesia may be used to help minimize discomfort. Patients may experience pressure or discomfort, and individual experiences vary. Some patients may experience temporary pressure or discomfort, similar to their ears popping on a flight, when the balloon is inflated. Individual experiences vary.
Your follow-up care will depend on your individual treatment and recovery. Your ENT may recommend nasal sprays or pressure-equalizing techniques. You’ll also have follow-up visits as recommended so your provider can check how your ears are doing and see how your symptoms are progressing. This is a good time to mention anything you’ve noticed, even if it seems minor.
Some patients notice improvement relatively soon after the procedure, while improvement may occur gradually for others. Results and timing vary.
Eustachian tube balloon dilation is a minimally invasive procedure, and recovery may be relatively short for some patients. Recovery time and activity restrictions vary. Your provider will give you individualized post-procedure instructions.
Many patients are able to go home the same day. Temporary pressure, stuffiness, or other symptoms may occur, and recovery varies by patient. Some patients may notice improvement in ear-pressure symptoms after treatment, although the timing and degree of improvement vary.
There usually isn’t much preparation needed, but your ENT will give you specific instructions before your eustachian tube dilation, depending on how the procedure will be performed. If you’ll receive general anesthesia, you may need to avoid eating or drinking for a certain amount of time beforehand and arrange for someone to drive you home.
Be sure to tell your provider about any medications, supplements, allergies, or health conditions you have. If you take blood thinners or other medications that may affect the procedure, your doctor will let you know if you need to make any temporary changes.
Adults with chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction whose symptoms have not improved with appropriate medical management may be candidates. An ENT evaluation is needed to determine whether the procedure is appropriate. For appropriately selected patients whose symptoms are related to chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction, balloon dilation may help improve certain symptoms. Patients who experience ear symptoms during pressure changes may also be evaluated for Eustachian tube dysfunction. At SoCal Breathe Free, we evaluate your sinus anatomy and history to ensure it is the right fit.
Contact Us Today for Relief from Your Ear Problems
If you’re tired of dealing with ear pain and pressure, eustachian tube dilation might be right for you. The SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers team specializes in performing this simple procedure to help our patients feel their best. Contact us today to take the first step toward getting relief from your ear problems.