Prevalence of Hearing Symptoms Related to Patulous Eustachian Tube After Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Background: Rapid and severe weight loss can result in the reduction of the ear tube lining fat tissue and it becomes patent, leading to symptoms such as autophony, aural fullness and tinnitus. Patients after bariatric surgery have, in theory, a predisposition to the development of such alteration. Aim: To evaluate the presence of patent tuba-related complaints in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, correlating with weight and body mass index (BMI) values, as well as demographic data. Methods: Cross-sectional study composed of the evaluation of patients undergoing bariatric surgery through a standardized questionnaire about the presence of symptoms compatible with ear tube patency. Results: Eighty patients were evaluated, 77 female and three males. The main comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension (37.5%). Fifteen (18.75%) presented symptoms compatible with patent auditory/Eustachian tube - aural fullness and autophony - postoperatively. In symptomatic individuals the initial weight was 112 kg on average and the preoperative BMI was 45 kg/m², while in asymptomatic individuals the weight was 117 kg and BMI 47 kg/m². There was statistical significance in the comparison between individuals with and without symptoms in the variables of initial weight (p=0.00000), current weight (p=0.00029), preoperative BMI (p=0.00219) and postoperative BMI (p=0.00148). Conclusion: The presence of symptoms compatible with patent auditory/Eustachian tube was 18.75% of the patients submitted to bariatric surgery in the evaluated sample. Both preoperative weight and BMI were lower in symptomatic patients when compared with the asymptomatic group.

Impact of Bariatric Surgery in Anxiety and Oral Condition of Obese Individuals: A Cohort Prospective Study

“…The high prevalence of obesity and the lack of satisfactory results in its conservative treatments have led to an increase in the number of bariatric surgeries in western countries 14,23,27 . It is important to consider that individuals submitted to bariatric surgery present lifestyle changes, especially in relation to food consumption.…”

Serum Vitamin D Concentration Is Lower in Patients with Tinnitus: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

“…For example, Vit D deficiency is commonplace in patients with extremes of body weight, thus in those with malnutrition [ 37 ], as well as in those with overweight or obesity [ 38 ]. In turn, tinnitus appears to be more prevalent in overweight/obese patients (e.g., due to pseudotumor cerebri syndrome or other disturbances) [ 39 , 40 ], as well as in those underweight [ 41 ] and/or with recent weight loss [ 42 ], in whom a reduced fat tissue lining may predispose a major propagation of internal sounds to the cochlea or amplify bone-conduction sounds [ 43 ]. Finally, Vit D has been convincingly linked to an enhanced risk of developing hypertension [ 44 ], since a recent meta-analysis emphasized that hypertensive patients have an increased odd of tinnitus (OR, 1.37; 95% CI: 1.16–1.62) [ 45 ].…”

Serum vitamin D concentration is lower in patients with tinnitus: a meta-analysis of observational studies

“…For example, Vit D deficiency is commonplace in patients with extremes of body weight, thus in those with malnutrition [34], as well as in those with overweight or obesity [35]. In turn, tinnitus appears to be more prevalent in overweight/obese patients (e.g., due to pseudotumor cerebri syndrome or other disturbances) [36,37], as well as in those underweight [38] and/or with recent weight loss [39], in whom a reduced fat tissue lining may predispose a major propagation of internal sounds to the cochlea or amplify bone-conduction sounds [40]. Finally, Vit D has been convincingly link to an enhanced risk of developing hypertension [41], since a recent meta-analysis emphasized that hypertensive patients have an increased odds of tinnitus (OR, 1.37; 95%CI: 1.16-1.62) [42].…”