Authors' objectives: Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty (BET) is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with chronic tube dysfunction which involves passing a balloon catheter into the Eustachian tube (ET). By temporarily dilating the ET with the balloon, its clearance and ventilator function is to be re-established and symptoms of chronic tube dysfunction are to be improved. Potential consequences of chronic tube dysfunction are acute or chronic otitis media, damage to the middle ear and eardrum and hearing loss. Tube dysfunction has a prevalence of approx. 1% in adults. Currently, there are 2 CE marked products on the market for BET: the Bielefelder Ballonkatheter/TubaVent® produced by Spiggle & Theis and the AERATM produced by Acclarent Inc./Johnson & Johnson. This report, which is based on a EUnetHTA assessment published in February 2015, aims to compare the effectiveness and safety of BET in patients aged >12 years with tympanostomy and medication.

Authors' recommendations: Due to a lack of comparative data, no definite conclusions can be drawn as to whether BET is effective and safe in the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://eprints.hta.lbg.ac.at/1073

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Austria

Organisation Name: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for fuer Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA), Garnisongasse 7/rechte Stiege Mezzanin (Top 20), 1090 Vienna, Austria. Tel: +43 1 236 8119 - 0 Fax: +43 1 236 8119 - 99

Contact Name: tarquin.mittermayr@aihta.at

Contact Email: office@aihta.at

Copyright: Ludwig Boltzmann Institut fuer Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA)