Figure 2

Study design and technical steps of Eustachian tube balloon dilatation (ETBD) in a rat model. (a) Flowchart shows the randomization of process and study follow-up. (b) The rat was placed in the prone position and a 24 G angiocatheter with a 0.014-inch micro guidewire was inserted from the tympanic membrane to the nasal cavity. (c) ETBD was performed under fluoroscopic guidance. (d) Contrast medium was injected through the angiocatheter to confirm the location of the rat ET (arrowheads). (e) Micro guidewire was inserted through the angiocatheter until it came out of the nostrils. (f) Balloon catheter was retrogradely advanced over the guidewire into the rat ET (arrowheads) and was inflated (arrows) to 9 atm for 1 min.