New ENT surgical technique
performed at Tauranga Hospital
Pictured above from left: Hawkes Bay ENT Surgeon Stephen Toynton, ENT Surgeons Wouter Ten Cate, Dinaz Irani, ENT Registrar Rachael Bentall,
visiting ENT Trainee from Sweden Evelina Gille, Stryker company rep, Joshua Roberts, ENT Surgeon Tesuven Naidu, Lakes ENT Surgeon Gary
Beck, ENT Surgeon Chris Low, and ENT House Officer, Daniel Scott.
By Wouter Ten Cate, ENT Surgeon and Rachael
Bentall, Registrar, Tauranga Hospital.
In April, Eustachian Tube balloon dilation, an
exciting new surgical technique, was introduced
at Tauranga Hospital by Stephen Toynton,
visiting ENT Surgeon from Hawkes Bay DHB
and BOPDHB ENT Surgeon Wouter Ten Cate.
Eustachian Tube balloon dilation is a recently
developed technique to improve middle ear
ventilation in patients with chronic Eustachian
tube dysfunction (difficulty clearing the ears).
middle ear disease. Poor ventilation of the middle ear leads to
negative middle ear pressure and sequelae like glue ear, drum
retraction, drum perforation and even chronic ear infection.
Eustachian Tube balloon dilation is an exciting new additional
therapeutical approach for this group of patients. Clinical trials have
shown that Eustachian Tube balloon dilation gives significant benefit
for many patients with chronic Eustachian Tube dysfunction.
To perform Eustachian Tube dilation a catheter is passed through
the nose under vision with an endoscope attached to a camera.
The dilatation catheter is passed into the Eustachian Tube and
a balloon encasing the catheter is inflated to widen the passage.
This is a safe and effective way to treat a difficult problem. The
ENT department is pleased to offer this new innovative procedure
to our patients in the Bay.
BOPDHB ENT Surgeons Wouter Ten Cate and Dinaz Irani
performed the procedure with Hawkes Bay ENT Surgeon Stephen
Toynton on four Bay of Plenty patients. The procedure was
observed by BOPDHB ENT Surgeons Tesuven Naidu and Chris
Low, and ENT Surgeon Gary Back from Lakes DHB.
The Eustachian Tube connects the area in the back of the nose
(nasopharynx) with the middle ear. This allows us to equalise the
pressure in the middle ear (popping the ears) when changing altitude
or diving underwater. Middle ear pressure equalisation is necessary
to maintain normal middle ear function and hearing. We become quite
aware of the function of the Eustachian Tube when doing activities
such as flying or diving. We also notice a blockage when a cold or
flu-like illness compromises the Eustachian Tube function.
In some people, middle ear pressure equalisation through the
Eustachian Tube is compromised long term. Individuals with
chronic Eustachian Tube dysfunction often have a blocked feeling
or pain in the ears, which worsens with flying or diving. Chronic
Eustachian Tube dysfunction is also associated with chronic
20
ENT Surgeon Stephen Toynton performing Eustachian Tube balloon dilation with
assistance from ENT Theatre Nurse of Kim Baker. The screen shows the guiding
instrument placed at the entrance of the right Eustachian Tube.