Patulous Eustachian Tube

Title

Not a rare disease

Other Names:

PET

Categories:

Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases

Summary Summary

Patulous eustachian tube is a benign but symptomatically troubling condition in which the eustachian tube stays open most of the time.^[1]^[2] The eustachian tube is the tube that runs between the middle ear and throat and regulates the ear pressure around the ear drum.^[3] Under normal circumstances, it remains closed most of the time, opening only on occasion to equalize air pressure between the middle ear and the exterior environment. Major symptoms include distorted autophony (hearing one's own voice or breathing), echoing which may interfere with speech production, wave-like sounds, and a sensation of fullness in the ear. In severe cases, vertigo and hearing loss may occur. Over time, individuals with patulous eustachian tube may develop serious and even extreme responses to the abnormal sounds and other findings. In most cases, the cause of patulous eustachian tube is unknown. Weight loss and pregnancy may be predisposing factors. Neurologic disorders that cause muscle atrophy such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron disease have been implicated in some cases of patulous eustachian tube. Other cases may be associated with medications such as oral contraceptives or diuretics. Other predisposing factors include fatigue, stress, anxiety, exercise, and temporomandibular joint syndrome.^[1] Many treatments have been proposed, however none have shown consistent effectiveness.^[2]

Last updated: 5/21/2016

Cause Cause

In most instances, the cause of patulous eustachian tube is not known. There are several factors that are thought to increase the risk for this condition to develop including:^[1]^[4]

Weight loss (sometimes cause by a chronic illness)
Pregnancy
Neurological disorders that cause muscle loss (stroke, multiple sclerosis)
Scarring and joining of tissues in the nasopharynx following adenoidectomy or radiation therapy
Certain medications (birth control pills, diuretics)
Exhaustion
Stress and anxiety
Exercise
Temporomandibular joint syndrome

Last updated: 2/17/2017

Treatment Treatment

While no standard treatment has been found to work for every patient, there are several options that have been used to successfully manage the symptoms in a number of individuals. Patients are often advised to recline or lower the head between the knees when symptoms occur. They may also be advised to avoid diuretics and/or increase weight. Nasal sprays, drops, or topical nasal administration of medications containing anticholinergics, estrogen, diluted hydrochloric acid, chlorobutanol, or benzyl alcohol may work in reducing symptoms in some patients. Surgical treatment may be indicated in some cases.^[1]

Information detailing treatment options can be accessed through Medscape Reference.

A review article from 2015 also summarizes what is known about the effectiveness of currently available treatments.

Last updated: 2/17/2017

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Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are studying or have studied Patulous Eustachian Tube. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Patulous Eustachian Tube. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

GARD Answers GARD Answers

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I developed patulous eustacian tube following gastric bypass surgery. Are there treatments for this condition? See answer

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References References

Patel AA, Levine SC. Patulous Eustachian Tube. Medscape Reference. April 3, 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/858909-overview#showall.
Luu K, Remillard A, Fandino M, Saxby A, Westerberg BD. Treatment Effectiveness for Symptoms of Patulous Eustachian Tube: A Systematic Review.. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Dec; 36(10):1593-600. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26595716.
Kaneshiro NK. Eustachian tube anatomy. MedlinePlus. August 30, 2014; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9308.htm.
Hussein AA, Adams A, Turner JH. Surgical Management of Patulous Eustachian Tube: A Systematic Review. Laryngoscope. September 2015; 125(9):2193-2198. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4725712/.