Guest: Laura J. Orvidas, M.D.

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)

Tonsils and eustachian tubes often get taken for granted until they cause problems. Eustachian tube dysfunction is quite common and usually resolves on its own, however some patients will develop recurrent eustachian tube dysfunction and it can result in recurrent episodes of otitis media, especially in children. Although recurrent tonsillitis used to be the most common indication for tonsillectomy, more children are having this procedure for disordered breathing conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea. In this episode, we’ll discuss disorders of the eustachian tube and tonsils with Laura J. Orvidas, M.D., an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic.

Specific topics discussed:

• Purpose of the eustachian tube

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.