Incidence of Patulous Eustachian Tube Following Bariatric Surgery: An Observational Study at a Single Center.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of Patulous Eustachian Tube (PET) following bariatric surgery using standardized diagnostic criteria. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary academic medical center in northern Mexico. Methods: Sixty-four adults undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy were enrolled from April 2024 to June 2025. Otological assessments were conducted preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at 3 months postsurgery. PET diagnosis was determined using the Japan Otological Society (JOS) criteria. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) was administered at each visit. Weight loss parameters were recorded, and correlated with PET outcomes. Results: 64 enrolled patients, 12 were excluded, and 52 were analyzed. The mean patient age was 39.4 years (SD ± 10.7); 73.1% were women. Mean weight loss at 3 months was 22.8 kg (19.3% of initial body weight). No patients met criteria for definite PET at any time point. The proportion of patients with possible PET increased from 9.6% preoperatively to 23.1% at 3 months ( Conclusion: Despite significant weight loss, no confirmed cases of PET 3 months after bariatric surgery. These findings suggest that previously reported high PET incidence rates may reflect inconsistent diagnostic standards rather than true clinical pathology. Symptom-driven evaluation rather than routine PET screening may be more appropriate in the early postoperative period. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to assess long-term risk.