Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report:

• Middle Ear Effusion

Symptoms of pET include variable intensity of the sensation of fullness in the ear; oceanic roaring sounds associated with breathing; loud, echoing sensations and a sense of hearing one’s own speech at a high volume. There may also be a stopped-up feeling in the ear.

Dizziness may, on occasion, accompany the abnormal sound sensations. The heightened sounds of chewing may be loud enough to interfere with eating.

Patulous eustachian tube results when the eustachian tube is open continuously or for long periods. Under normal conditions, the eustachian tube remains closed because the natural elasticity of the structure tends towards closure or because of surface tension of the interior of the tube (lumen) and pressure by the muscles outside the tube. If any (or all) of these forces fail, the tube does not close.

For reasons that are not clear, the condition is often associated with recent weight loss, and with a high concentration of estrogens in the blood due to pregnancy or medication. Other possible causes of pET dysfunction are neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis, poliomyelitis, Parkinson's disease and neurovascular accident. Adhesions and scarring of the pharyngeal recess and of the posterior lip of the pharyngeal opening of the eustachian tube can also result in the disorder.

Patulous eustachian tube is most prevalent in women who have had a significant recent weight loss and in pregnant women. Adults and adolescents are most often affected. Instances of this occurring among children are very rare.

Various epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of the condition in the general population is 0.3% to 6.6%. Of those affected however, only about 20% seek medical treatment.

Middle Ear Effusion is the chronic accumulation of thick fluid in the middle ear. Deafness, fullness and crackling noises in the ears can occur as a result of this disorder.

Diagnosis
A clinical history and patient description of the symptoms are often sufficient for the diagnosis. There are several tests that may be used to confirm the diagnosis, including the detection of movement of the ear drum along with respiration, (tympanometry) and others.

Treatment
Temporary relief may be achieved by having the affected person lie down or bend forward with the head between the knees. Sniffing can also provide momentary relief.

In some cases, estrogen-based nasal drops or anticholinergics may be effective. Weight gain may also cause pET to recede.

Patulous eustachian tube dysfunction has been treated surgically by cutting the hook around which the tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle passes (pterygoid hamulotomy) combined with transposition or transection of the tendon of this muscle. Good results have been obtained in approximately 70 percent of persons undergoing this procedure.

The drug Patul-end has received an orphan drug designation for its use in the treatment of patulous eustachian tube. More studies are needed to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of this drug for the treatment of patulous eustachian tube. For more information, contact:

The EAR Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee
1817 Patterson Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Phone Toll Free (voice/TDD): 1-800-545-HEAR
Phone (voice/TDD): 615-284-7807
Fax: 615-284-7935
E-Mail: earfound@earfoundation.org

TEXTBOOKS
Ballenger JJ, ed. Diseases of the Nose, Throat, Ear, Head and Neck. 14th ed. Lea & Febiger, Malvern, PA; 1991:1101-02.

JOURNAL ARTICLES
Kano S, Kawase T, Baba Y, et al. Possible new assessment of patulous eustachian tube function: Audiometry or tones presented in the nasal cavity. Acta Otolaryngol. 2004;124:431-35.

Yoshida H, Kobayashi T, Morikawa M, et al. CT imaging of the patulous eustachian tube –comparison between sitting and recumbent positions. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2003;30:135-40.

Doherty JK, Slattery WH 3rd. Analogous fat grafting for the refractory patulous eustachian tube. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;128:88-91.

Poe DS, Abou-Halawa A, Abdel-Razek O. Analysis of the dysfunctional eustachian tube by video endoscopy. Otol Neurotol. 2001;22:590-95.

Kaneko A, Hosoda Y, Doi T, et al. Tubal compliance—changes with age and tubal malfunction. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2001;28:121-24.

Tideholm B, Carlborg B, Brattmo M. Continuous long-term measurements of the middle ear pressure in subjects with symptoms of patulous eustachian tube. Acta Otolaryngol. 1999;119:809-15.

Chen DA, Luxford WM. Myringotomy and tube for relief of patulous eustachian tube symptoms. Am J Otol. 1990;11:272-73.

Robinson PJ, Hazell JW. Patulous eustachian tube syndrome: the relationship with sensorineural hearing loss. Treatment by eustachian tube diathermy. J Laryngol Otol. 1989;103:739-42.

FROM THE INTERNET
Patulous Eustachian Tube. emedicine. Last updated: August 6, 2002. 7pp.
www.emedicine.com/ent/topic208.htm

Own Voice Sounds Distorted & Loud. IVillage. nd. 2pp.
www.ivillagehealth.com

Kuppersmith RB. Eustachian Tube Function and Dysfunction. Grand Rounds Archives. The Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences. Baylor College of Medicine. July 11, 1996. 11pp.
www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/grand/71196.html