A Rare Case of Pneumomediastinum after Eustachian Tube Dilation

Sallie Long; Adetokunbo Obayemi; Anaïs Rameau

doi:10.1159/000512857

A Rare Case of Pneumomediastinum after Eustachian Tube Dilation

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2021;83(2):127-129. doi: 10.1159/000512857. Epub 2021 Feb 5.

Authors

Sallie Long¹, Adetokunbo Obayemi¹, Anaïs Rameau²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA, anr2783@med.cornell.edu.

PMID: 33550298
DOI: 10.1159/000512857

Abstract

Eustachian tube dilation (ETD) is a relatively new intervention for the treatment of eustachian tube dysfunction. Though it previously had no assigned billing code, the American Medical Association recently accepted a new Category I Current Procedural Terminology code application for ETD to be effective in January 2021. Reported complications are uncommon and usually minor. Herein, we present a rare case of massive pneumomediastinum following this procedure. Such major complications are critical to report as ETD becomes a more commonly practiced procedure.

Keywords: Balloon dilation; Eustachian tube dilation; Eustachian tube dysfunction; Pneumomediastinum.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Dilatation
Ear Diseases* / diagnosis
Ear Diseases* / etiology
Eustachian Tube*
Humans
Mediastinal Emphysema* / diagnostic imaging
Mediastinal Emphysema* / etiology