Transtympanic eustachian tuboplasty and tolerance of stenting materials.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate various eustachian tube stenting materials in an attempt to develop a successful transtympanic eustachian tuboplasty technique. Eustachian tube mucosa was removed transtympanically in 40 feline ears. Ten ears were used as controls. Polyethylene, Silastic, and polyurethane stents were placed in 30 ears, 10 ears with each material. The ears were evaluated after a minimum of 8 weeks and the stents were removed. Eight weeks after stent removal the ears were assessed visually, tympanometrically, and by biopsies of the osseous eustachian tube mucosa. Inadequate middle ear ventilation as evidenced by persistent otitis media, persistent tympanic membrane perforations, or type B or type C tympanograms was found in 60% of control, 30% of Silastic-stented, 60% of polyurethane-stented, and 0% of polyethylene-stented ears. Small polyethylene stents were most successful in reestablishing eustachian tube function in this experiment.