Association of eustachian tube dysfunction in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing
Reviewed by Madhup K Chaurasia

The need for this study arises from the fact that after undergoing adenotonsillectomy, some children continue to suffer from symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) which overlap with symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), such as cognitive and behavioural impairment, resulting in decreased concentration. Therefore, the prevalence of ETD in children with SDB needs to be assessed and addressed in a timely manner. In this study, children with SDB, who did not improve with conservative measures such as intranasal corticoids, antihistamines and environmental control, underwent adenotonsillectomy. Prior to this, they were assessed for ETD with tympanometry. Other assessments comprised grading of the size of tonsils, obstruction in nasopharyngeal space, polysomnography for AHI and evaluation of nasal condition in terms of allergic rhinitis, polyps, etc. Abnormal tympanometry was noted in 35.9% cases. There was a significant association with children younger than 6 years of age, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, adenoid hypertrophy and hypoxaemia, but not with sex, disease duration, tonsillar hypertrophy or severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. Interestingly, this study did not find any correlation between ETD and obesity, suggesting that obesity is not a risk factor for otitis media with effusion. The authors therefore contend that there should be careful attention to assessment of ETD, at least by tympanometry in such children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for SDB.

Prevalence and risk factors for Eustachian tube dysfunction in children with sleep-disordered breathing undergoing adenotonsillectomy: a double centre retrospective study.
Deng W, Luo W, Zhang Z, Xiong H.
J LARYNGOL OTOL 
2026;140(2):154–8.