Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube (BDET)-A Pooled Analysis in Pediatric Patients.

Abstract

To analyze the outcomes and safety of pediatric Balloon Dilation of Eustachian Tube (BDET). Retrospective pooled analysis. Records of 219 patients (425 ears) were analyzed. The inclusion criteria included children 17 years old and younger who underwent BDET with or without adjunctive procedures. Patients had a diagnosis of chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) or recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) refractory to prior surgical treatment. Procedures were performed by a total of seven surgeons at six surgical centers. Pooled analysis was performed on efficacy, complications, BDET failure, and tympanograms. No major complications were reported; however, minor adverse events occurred in 5.9% of patients. BDET had a 1-year failure-free probability of 93.8% (95% CI: 89.7%-96.3%); at 2 years, it was 87.2% (95% CI: 81.9%-91.0%). Tympanograms improved in 83.7% of ears. BDET in pediatric patients demonstrated a favorable safety profile, while being effective and exhibiting long-lasting durability.