Nasal Dilator Therapy for Patulous Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
25 de agosto de 2026 actualizado por: Vrabec, Jeffrey M.D., The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Prospective PI-Initiated Study of Nasal Dilator Therapy in Patulous Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, providing ventilation of the middle ear. People with a patulous Eustachian tube perceive the tube stays open continuously. This can make a person's own voice and breathing sound unusually loud in the ear and can cause a feeling of fullness or blocked hearing. There is currently no agreed-upon first treatment for these symptoms.
Some people with this condition notice their symptoms improve when they gently pull the cheek outward to widen the nasal passage. A nasal dilator is a small, soft device worn just inside the nostrils that does something similar by holding the nasal passage more open. Nasal dilators are sold over the counter and are commonly used for stuffy nose and snoring. They have not been studied as a treatment for patulous Eustachian tube.
This study will look at whether wearing a nasal dilator reduces symptoms in adults with patulous Eustachian tube. About 50 adults treated at Houston Methodist will take part. Everyone in the study receives the nasal dilator; there is no placebo or comparison group.
Participants complete a 10-question symptom survey before using the device, again 10 minutes after putting it in for the first time, and once more at a follow-up clinic visit about 3 to 4 weeks later. Between visits, participants wear the device at home and keep track of how often they use it. At the follow-up visit they also answer questions about whether the device was comfortable and easy to use, and whether they had any side effects. Participation lasts about 3 to 4 weeks.
Descripción general del estudio
Estado
Reclutamiento
Intervención / Tratamiento
Descripción detallada
This is a single-arm, prospective, pre/post pilot study of a commercially available internal nasal dilator (Airmax) in adults with clinically confirmed patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction and a positive Cottle maneuver.
Symptom burden is measured with the Patulous Eustachian Tube Handicap Inventory-10 (PHI-10) at baseline, 10 minutes after first device application, and at a 3-4 week follow-up visit.
The study is intended to generate effect-size estimates to inform the design of subsequent controlled trials.
The device is over-the-counter, 510(k)-exempt, used without modification, and the study is exempt from IDE requirements under 21 CFR 812.2(c).
Tipo de estudio
Intervencionista
Inscripción (Estimado)
50
Fase
- No aplica
Contactos y Ubicaciones
Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.
Estudio Contacto
- Nombre: Stephanie Camey, BA
- Número de teléfono: 8327068834
- Correo electrónico: scamey@houstonmethodist.org
Copia de seguridad de contactos de estudio
- Nombre: Roger Neuberger, BS
- Número de teléfono: 361-945-1327
- Correo electrónico: rneuberger@houstonmethodist.org
Ubicaciones de estudio
-
-
Texas
-
Houston, Texas, Estados Unidos, 77030
- Reclutamiento
- Houston Methodist Hospital - Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
-
Contacto:
- Stephanie Camey, BA
- Número de teléfono: 8327068834
- Correo electrónico: scamey@houstonmethodist.org
-
Contacto:
- Roger Neuberger, BS
- Número de teléfono: 361-945-1327
- Correo electrónico: rneuberger@houstonmethodist.org
-
Investigador principal:
- Jeffrey Vrabec, MD
-
-
Criterios de participación
Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.
Criterio de elegibilidad
Edades elegibles para estudiar
- Adulto
- Adulto Mayor
Acepta Voluntarios Saludables
No
Descripción
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Treated by a clinician in the Houston Methodist Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
- Positive response to the Cottle maneuver
- Able and willing to provide informed consent
- Able to complete study surveys
- Willing to avoid starting new therapies directed at patulous Eustachian tube during the study window unless medically necessary
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active middle-ear disease at screening
- Significant nasal pathology precluding safe use of a nasal dilator
- Known intolerance or hypersensitivity to nasal dilators
- Any condition judged by the investigator to increase risk or confound assessments
- Unable to provide informed consent
- Cognitive impairment preventing completion of study surveys
- Non-English speaking, as the PHI-10 and study materials are currently available only in English
- Pregnant
- Prisoner
Plan de estudios
Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.
¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?
Detalles de diseño
- Propósito principal: Tratamiento
- Asignación: N / A
- Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación de un solo grupo
- Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)
Armas e Intervenciones
Grupo de participantes/brazo |
Intervención / Tratamiento |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Internal Nasal Dilator
Participants receive a commercially available internal nasal dilator (Airmax) at the baseline clinic visit, along with sizing, fitting, and hygiene instruction from trained study staff.
Participants apply the device during the visit and continue at-home use per the study wear schedule until the follow-up visit approximately 3 to 4 weeks later.
|
Single-patient-use, over-the-counter internal nasal dilator worn inside the nasal vestibule to laterally support the nasal valve and increase nasal cross-sectional area.
Devices are supplied in sealed retail packaging without modification.
Participants wear the device per the prescribed schedule from the baseline visit until the follow-up visit at 3 to 4 weeks.
Otros nombres:
|
¿Qué mide el estudio?
Medidas de resultado primarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Patulous Eustachian Tube Handicap Inventory-10 (PHI-10) score
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline and 3 to 4 weeks
|
The PHI-10 is a 10-item validated patient-reported instrument measuring symptom burden in patulous Eustachian tube.
Total scores range from 0 to 40, with lower scores indicating fewer symptoms.
The outcome is the change in total score from baseline to the follow-up visit.
|
Baseline and 3 to 4 weeks
|
Medidas de resultado secundarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Acute change in PHI-10 score after first device application
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline and 10 minutes after first application
|
Change in PHI-10 total score from baseline to 10 minutes (±5 minutes) after the participant first applies the nasal dilator, assessing immediate symptom response.
Scores range 0 to 40; lower is better.
|
Baseline and 10 minutes after first application
|
|
Adherence to device wear
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline through 3 to 4 weeks
|
Self-reported average hours of device wear per day and percentage of prescribed days on which the device was worn, collected at the follow-up visit.
|
Baseline through 3 to 4 weeks
|
|
Device usability and acceptability
Periodo de tiempo: 3 to 4 weeks
|
Participant ratings of comfort, ease of use, and willingness to continue use, each scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability.
|
3 to 4 weeks
|
|
Global Rating of Change
Periodo de tiempo: 3 to 4 weeks
|
Single-item participant-reported rating of overall change in symptoms since baseline, collected at the follow-up visit.
|
3 to 4 weeks
|
|
Number of participants with device-related adverse events
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline through 3 to 4 weeks
|
Count of participants experiencing device-related adverse events, including nasal irritation, pressure discomfort, and epistaxis.
Assessed at first wear, at the follow-up visit, and by interim report between visits.
|
Baseline through 3 to 4 weeks
|
Colaboradores e Investigadores
Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.
Patrocinador
Investigadores
- Investigador principal: Jeffrey Vrabec, MD, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Publicaciones y enlaces útiles
La persona responsable de ingresar información sobre el estudio proporciona voluntariamente estas publicaciones. Estos pueden ser sobre cualquier cosa relacionada con el estudio.
Publicaciones Generales
- Dinardi RR, de Andrade CR, Martins-Costa HC, Ibiapina Cda C. Does the Airmax(R) internal nasal dilator increase peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) in adolescent athletes? Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 May;84:37-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.02.023. Epub 2016 Feb 27.
- Mehta NK, Ma C, Nguyen SA, McRackan TR, Meyer TA, Lambert PR. Medical Management for Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Laryngoscope. 2022 Apr;132(4):849-856. doi: 10.1002/lary.29878. Epub 2021 Oct 4.
- Luu K, Remillard A, Fandino M, Saxby A, Westerberg BD. Treatment Effectiveness for Symptoms of Patulous Eustachian Tube: A Systematic Review. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Dec;36(10):1593-600. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000000900.
Fechas de registro del estudio
Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.
Fechas importantes del estudio
Inicio del estudio (Actual)
22 de abril de 2026
Finalización primaria (Estimado)
1 de noviembre de 2026
Finalización del estudio (Estimado)
22 de abril de 2027
Fechas de registro del estudio
Enviado por primera vez
25 de agosto de 2026
Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
25 de agosto de 2026
Publicado por primera vez (Actual)
31 de agosto de 2026
Actualizaciones de registros de estudio
Última actualización publicada (Actual)
31 de agosto de 2026
Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
25 de agosto de 2026
Última verificación
1 de agosto de 2026
Más información
Términos relacionados con este estudio
Palabras clave
Otros números de identificación del estudio
- PRO00042612
Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)
¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?
NO
Descripción del plan IPD
Individual participant data will not be shared.
This is a single-site pilot study; data will be reported in aggregate form only.
Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio
Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
No
Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
Sí
producto fabricado y exportado desde los EE. UU.
Sí
Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .