Refractory Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: Are the Symptoms Related to Endolymphatic Hydrops
Status:
Withdrawn
Trial end date:
2013-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the benefit of treatment of refractory Eustachian
tube dysfunction with standard treatment for endolymphatic hydrops. Eustachian tube
dysfunction is a common diagnosis made in otolaryngology related to abnormal pressure
equalization of the middle ear space related to a swollen, inflamed, or occluded Eustachian
tube. The symptoms of this include perceived hearing loss, a feeling of fullness in the
affected ear/ears, ear pain, ear popping, and occasionally imbalance. These symptoms overlap
with a more rare and difficult to diagnose condition known as endolymphatic hydrops, or an
overproduction to fluid in the inner ear. The treatment for these two conditions are distinct
and traditionally, patients are treated for Eustachian tube dysfunction first as it is much
more common and there are several treatments, namely nasal steroids, antihistamines, and
pressure equalization tubes. For patients who do not improve with these treatments, they are
often treated with diuretics and a low salt diet to treat for supposed endolymphatic hydrops.
There has never been a study to investigate the utility of these treatments in patients with
refractory Eustachian tube dysfunction. There is also reason to believe that chronic ETD with
effusion can lead to both inner and middle ear dysfunction. Thus, this study aims to
determine the benefit of standard endolymphatic hydrops treatment on patient with refractory
Eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms in a prospective fashion.
Hypothesis:
Patients with refractory Eustachian tube dysfunction (patients with no or minimal symptom
improvement despite nasal steroid and antihistamine treatment followed by myringotomy tube
placement) have an element of endolymphatic hydrops and these patient's symptoms will improve
with a low sodium diet and diuretic.