Cavity problems after mastoid surgery and it’s management-various aspects-
Treatment
Medication: Ear drops that are bactericidal and fungicidal may assist in minimizing discharge and odor.
Cleaning: Thorough cleaning of the cavity can aid in drying it out.
Surgery: Revision surgery might involve either filling the cavity with biological or synthetic substances, or repairing the canal wall.
Common cavity problems
Discharge: Ongoing discharge from the mastoid cavity is a frequent issue following surgery.
Granulations: Granulations may develop within the cavity.
Wax buildup: Wax can build up in the cavity.
Structural problems: Inadequate meatoplasty or insufficient lowering of the facial ridge may necessitate additional surgery.
When to call a doctor
You have a fever of 100. 5°F (38. 05°C) or above
You experience heavy ear bleeding or discharge
You have facial weakness
You feel dizziness or vertigo
You experience hearing loss
Methods
Patients who had experienced canal wall-down mastoidectomy for chronic otitis media with the formation of a persistent mastoid cavity and had revision tympanomastoid surgery that included mastoid cavity obliteration using autologous material were part of the study. Audiological assessments including air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) pure-tone averages (PTA) as well as the air–bone gap (ABG) were evaluated. Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) was measured by the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory (ZCMEI-21) both before and after the surgery.
Results
In total, 25 patients (16 females and 9 males; average age 51. 6 years, with 14 right and 11 left ears) were examined. Patients were reassessed after an average follow-up duration of 9. 2 months (SD = 6. 5) following the obliteration of the mastoid cavity. When compared to the initial visit, patients exhibited a significantly lower AC PTA at the postoperative visit
Conclusions
This is the initial study documenting a highly significant and clinically crucial enhancement in HRQoL following mastoid cavity obliteration in a prospective context. The improvement in HRQoL was found to be unrelated to the hearing improvement. As a clinical implication, we present evidence of a considerable subjective benefit from the surgical obliteration of a problematic mastoid cavity and, consequently, we advocate for this surgical approach.
