mastoidectomy

[Guest guest]

Hello all. I've pasted info below from the following link: The Balance Center: Cholesteatoma and Mastoid Surgery , actual address = http://www.pennhealth.com/health/hi_files/balance/hi6.html

What is the treatment of cholesteatoma?

For the vast majority of patients, the best treatment for cholesteatoma is surgery. This allows removal of the cholesteatoma and attempts to correct the damage the cholesteatoma has done. This surgery is called a mastoidectomy. At times this surgery may be accompanied by a tympanoplasty (repair of an eardrum), and an ossiculoplasty (repair of the bones of hearing).

How is a mastoidectomy performed?

That mastoid bone lies immediately behind the middle and external ears. If it is invaded by cholesteatoma, it must be opened up so that the cholesteatoma can be cleaned out. This is done using the microscope and high speed drills. There are two basic type of mastoidectomies. In one type of surgery the back half of the external ear canal is removed creating a common cavity between the external ear canal and the mastoid bone. This surgery, called a canal wall down mastoidectomy, offers excellent control of cholesteatoma. An alternative approach is one in which the canal wall is not taken down, is termed a canal wall up mastoidectomy. The choice between performing a canal wall up and canal down mastoidectomy is dependent on the degree of damage the cholesteatoma has done to the ear and mastoid bone and the condition of the ear and mastoid bone at the time of surgery. Your surgeon will suggest the best option for your particular cholesteatoma.

What are the advantages and disadvan-tages of the various types of mas-toidectomy?

The main advantage of a canal wall down mastoidectomy is that it offers excellent control of the cholesteatoma.The main disadvantage to a canal wall down mas-toidectomy is that it creates a cavity that can only be visualized by a physician look-ing in the ear. This cavity must be cleaned periodically (every 6 to 12 months). These cavities are more prone to infection, and particular care must be taken by the patient to keep the ear dry. The advantage of the canal wall up mastoidectomy is that the basic normal anatomy of the ear is maintained and, therefore, there is no cavity and no need for regular cleaning and special precautions with regard to water exposure. However, the disadvantage of the canal wall up mastoidectomy is that it has a lesser chance of clearing the cholesteatoma and a higher chance of recurrence of a cholesteatoma at a later date. Therefore, a patient with a canal wall up mastoidectomy must still be followed regularly by an ear specialist to ensure that no recurrence has occurred.

Some other links with similar info: http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/grand/10793.html

Mastoid Surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Great info, thanks for sharing!!!......

Sincerely,

Renonda

[Guest guest]

,

thank you so very much. What a great explanation of all this. I am

going to take this to my son so he can read it and understand better

what is happening to him.

It seems from all the information that I have read, that his ENT did

what he considered to be the best thing for him and (fortunatley and

unfortunatley) he went for the total mastoidectomy. My son lost 2 of

his bones in his right ear and is due to have the reconstructive surgery

in about 8 months.

But most of all thanks to you and all those others that give out this

information to the new comers to this terrible disease.

Esther

>>> rlockw1092@... 04/16/03 02:30PM >>>

Hello all. I've pasted info below from the following link: <A

HREF= " http://www.pennhealth.com/health/hi_files/balance/hi6.html " >The

Balance

Center: Cholesteatoma and Mastoid Surgery</A> , actual address =

http://www.pennhealth.com/health/hi_files/balance/hi6.html

What is the treatment of cholesteatoma?

For the vast majority of patients, the best treatment for cholesteatoma

is

surgery. This allows removal of the cholesteatoma and attempts to

correct the

damage the cholesteatoma has done. This surgery is called a

mastoidectomy. At

times this surgery may be accompanied by a tympanoplasty (repair of an

eardrum), and an ossiculoplasty (repair of the bones of hearing).

How is a mastoidectomy performed?

That mastoid bone lies immediately behind the middle and external ears.

If it

is invaded by cholesteatoma, it must be opened up so that the

cholesteatoma

can be cleaned out. This is done using the microscope and high speed

drills.

There are two basic type of mastoidectomies. In one type of surgery the

back

half of the external ear canal is removed creating a common cavity

between

the external ear canal and the mastoid bone. This surgery, called a

canal

wall down mastoidectomy, offers excellent control of cholesteatoma. An

alternative approach is one in which the canal wall is not taken down,

is

termed a canal wall up mastoidectomy. The choice between performing a

canal

wall up and canal down mastoidectomy is dependent on the degree of

damage the

cholesteatoma has done to the ear and mastoid bone and the condition of

the

ear and mastoid bone at the time of surgery. Your surgeon will suggest

the

best option for your particular cholesteatoma.

What are the advantages and disadvan-tages of the various types of

mas-toidectomy?

The main advantage of a canal wall down mastoidectomy is that it offers

excellent control of the cholesteatoma.The main disadvantage to a canal

wall

down mas-toidectomy is that it creates a cavity that can only be

visualized

by a physician look-ing in the ear. This cavity must be cleaned

periodically

(every 6 to 12 months). These cavities are more prone to infection, and

particular care must be taken by the patient to keep the ear dry. The

advantage of the canal wall up mastoidectomy is that the basic normal

anatomy

of the ear is maintained and, therefore, there is no cavity and no need

for

regular cleaning and special precautions with regard to water exposure.

However, the disadvantage of the canal wall up mastoidectomy is that it

has a

lesser chance of clearing the cholesteatoma and a higher chance of

recurrence

of a cholesteatoma at a later date. Therefore, a patient with a canal

wall up

mastoidectomy must still be followed regularly by an ear specialist to

ensure

that no recurrence has occurred.

Some other links with similar info: <A

HREF= " http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/grand/10793.html " >

http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/grand/10793.html</A>

<A HREF= " http://www.kyent.com/mastoid_surgery.htm " >Mastoid Surgery</A>

[Guest guest]

I don't know the answer to the first part of the question, but as

far as swimming and diving...I have been able to since my last

surgery. I had my CWD 20 years ago at age 14 (after 2 prior

surgeries--I assume CWU procedures) and I have not had any drainage

or infection since. The only problem I have with swimming and

diving is dizziness from the water going in with the big ear canal

(cold wind too). I do not protect from water any more and I have

not had any problems with recurrent cholesteatoma or infection. I

do wear a custom mold for the dizziness factor only.

Good luck with your surgery

-- In cholesteatoma , " drdbmolina1 "

<drdbmolina1@y...> wrote:

> If a mastoidectomy is performed, why is the bone not replaced with

a

> bone graft or artificial bone? Please let me know ASAP. Surgery

soon.

>

> Is it true that with a mastoidectomy, swimming and diving is not

> possible? Thank you so much for your assistance.

[Guest guest]

There is still bone there after a mastoidectomy... what they remove is the

spongy bone in the mastoid. If you have a canal wall down with the

mastoidectomy, you have to keep the ear dry. It makes swimming and anything

where the ear can be submerged out of the question, unless you have watertight

ear protection. I had a CWD 2 years ago, and my surgeon told me last fall that

I can now wet my ear, however, to be cautious as it could cause dizzyness... I

really don't know why it is now safe, so I haven't yet tested it, but initially

I was advised to get no water in the ear. I guess once the healing is complete,

and no c-toma remains, it probably would do no harm, but the cold water can

cause you to be dizzy, and you might also get the feeling that you have water in

the ear...

Lynn

>

> From: " drdbmolina1 " <drdbmolina1@...>

> Date: 2004/01/19 Mon AM 12:40:12 EST

> cholesteatoma

> Subject: mastoidectomy

>

> If a mastoidectomy is performed, why is the bone not replaced with a

> bone graft or artificial bone? Please let me know ASAP. Surgery soon.

>

> Is it true that with a mastoidectomy, swimming and diving is not

> possible? Thank you so much for your assistance.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

--- I believe the only time the replace a bone is if one of the three

middle ear bones is gone or destroyed. At least that was how it was

for me. My c-tome completely dissolved my stapes so they put in an

artificial one to replace it. As for the swimming, I was not allowed

to get ANY water in my ear for several years. I just recently got the

o.k. with submerging my head, but I have to wear mold earplugs. I

think thet want to have a dry healthy ear throughout the healing

process otherwise you risk infection.

I hope this has been of some help and I wish you the best with

your surgery!

Kind Regards,

Tenaya

[Guest guest]

i had this crazy surgery 2 days ago and i ahve so many questions, as

my head spins...i have been throwing up everything, dizzy, cant

sleep....im in need of a friend who has done this b4

[Guest guest]

" Sue Bundy " wrote:

>

> Has anyone on here had an allergic reaction to

> the 'stuff' that drips out of the packing in the

> ear canal? it smells strongly of antiseptic and

> possibly could be acid!! as is is buring my ear

> lobe and inner ear. Anyone had this and what did

> they use to prevent the burning please?

> Apart from that all is progressing well except

> my balance is none too good right now.

Sue,

The antiseptic usually used in the packing - at least in the UK - is called

BIPP, or Bismuth Iodoform Paraffin Paste to give it its full name. Most people

tolerate this very well - however it IS possible to have an allergic reaction to

it, so if you are having those symptoms I'd strongly recommend getting in touch

with the Hospital and telling them about it; if you haven't been given any other

way to contact them, telephone the ENT ward and ask for their advice.

,

Milton Keynes, UK

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I had strong TCP smelling fluid dripping out of my ear and then out of the wound behind my ear, it causes it to itch slightly was wasnt really uncomfortable.

I just make sure I put a piece of cotton bud in my ear next to the packing to it soaked it up and then wiped it with cooled boiled water to stop it itching my skin.

I think if its causing a lot of pain/problems call ENT and get them to have a look.

Emma

From: biffo1963 <biffo1963@...>cholesteatoma Sent: Sat, February 26, 2011 12:29:30 PMSubject: Re: Mastoidectomy

"Sue Bundy" wrote:>> Has anyone on here had an allergic reaction to> the 'stuff' that drips out of the packing in the> ear canal? it smells strongly of antiseptic and> possibly could be acid!! as is is buring my ear > lobe and inner ear. Anyone had this and what did> they use to prevent the burning please?> Apart from that all is progressing well except > my balance is none too good right now.Sue,The antiseptic usually used in the packing - at least in the UK - is called BIPP, or Bismuth Iodoform Paraffin Paste to give it its full name. Most people tolerate this very well - however it IS possible to have an allergic reaction to it, so if you are having those symptoms I'd strongly recommend getting in touch with the Hospital and telling them about it; if you haven't been given any other way to contact them, telephone the ENT ward and ask for their

advice.,Milton Keynes, UK