Objective: To evaluate the effect of nasal decongestants on eustachian tube (ET) opening.
Study design: A prospective nonrandomized study.
Setting: A tertiary referral center.
Patients: Twenty-four patients (44 ears) with intact eardrums, 39 patients (43 ears) having a noninfected eardrum defect, and six patients with an upper airway infection.
Interventions: Nasal or intratympanal (in perforated ears) application of a nasal decongestant (xylometazoline 0.1%).
Main outcome measures: Change of tube opening quality (yes or no; better or worse) measuring tube opening parameters (pressure, latency) using the Estève method and pressure equalization tests (swallowing at negative and positive external ear canal pressures).
Results: In most cases, nasal decongestion or intratympanal use of decongestants have no effect on ET opening. Improvement in tube opening is rather an exception and, in a minority of patients, a reduced ET function was evident.
Conclusion: Our acute studies revealed no improvement in eustachian ventilatory tube function with the administration of nasal decongestants.