Patulous auditory tube

Abstract

A patulous auditory tube is a condition in which the Eustachian tube remains constantly open, and it is associated to certain conditions such as weight loss and pregnancy, among others, which have in common tissue loss in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. Its clinical manifestations are varied, the main one being autophony. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and physical examination. For the health professional to suspect the condition, an otoscopy and ideally a nasal endoscopy are necessary. Eventually, other diagnosing techniques may be required, but their usefulness is still under discussion. Since its acceptance as a clinical entity, several surgical and medical treatments have been tried, with varied results. For this reason, each patient should be individually evaluated in order to decide a specific management. We present an updated literature review of a pathology of increasing importance, emphasizing the treatment alternatives that have demonstrated to be more effective.