| Abstract | dc.description.abstract | OBJECTIVE: Patulous eustachian tube (PET) is associated with
several factors, including weight loss. Rapid and significant weight
loss in bariatric surgery patients may be risk factors for developing
PET. The aim of this study is to provide information about the
prevalence of PET after bariatric surgery and its association to
weight loss.
STUDY DESIGN: Case series with planned data collection.
SETTING: Tertiary center.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We recruited 163 patients who
had undergone bariatric surgery at the Clinical Hospital of the
University of Chile between 2006 and 2009. One hundred fortyone
patients were finally analyzed by clinical interview and physical
examination. Two groups were formed, with and without PET.
The degree, time, and velocity of weight loss were compared
between groups. Demographic information and clinical presentation
are also presented.
RESULTS: The mean age was 38.9 years, and 76.6 percent of
the patients were female. We found PET in 21.28 percent of the
patients. Autophony was present in 96.6 percent of patients diagnosed
with PET. Patients without PET experienced weight loss at
an average of 39.54 kg during 16.59 months, while patients with
PET experienced weight loss at an average of 48.63 kg in 12.11
months. The weight loss velocity in the PET group had a mean of
5.34 3.4 kg/month versus 2.98 1.3 kg/month in patients without
PET. Time (P 0.0037), magnitude (P 0.0002), and velocity (P
0.0005) of weight loss was higher in patients with PET.
CONCLUSION: Our case series shows a significant prevalence
of PET in bariatric surgery patients, which has a correlation with
weight loss velocity and magnitude. | en_US |
