Mastoid surgery aftercare- various aspects-
After mastoid surgery, you can anticipate experiencing some drainage and discomfort, and you must refrain from intense activity for some time. You ought to take pain medication as directed.
What to expect
Pain: You should expect to take pain medication as directed.
Drainage: It is typical to have a light, bloody discharge from your ear for a few days. If the drainage is thick, yellow, or green, or if there is significant bleeding, you ought to reach out to your doctor.
Hearing: You may experience reduced hearing, popping, or clicking in your ear for a period.
What to do
Avoid strenuous activity: Refrain from lifting heavy items, jogging, or engaging in contact sports for at least two weeks.
Avoid water in your ear: Keep water out of your ear until your doctor indicates it is permissible. When showering, use a cotton ball smeared with petroleum jelly to prevent water entry.
Don’t blow your nose: Avoid blowing your nose for at least one to two weeks.
Take it easy: Ensure you get sufficient sleep and rest when you feel fatigued.
Clean the incision: Clean the incision with hydrogen peroxide twice a day and apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment.
When to call your doctor
If you experience a fever, chills, or worsening pain
If you notice redness, swelling, or drainage from the surgical site
If you feel dizziness
If you have severe pain even after taking pain medication
If you observe a change in the appearance or movement of your face on the side of the surgery
Clean your hands with soap and water before you touch the ear.
* If there is an incision located behind your ear, it is important to clean it three times a day using hydrogen peroxide, and subsequently apply an antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin, Polysporin, Neomycin, Bacitracin, etc. ) for a duration of ten days. This incision should remain dry for 36 hours following the surgery.
* Keep water out of the ear canal until directed otherwise by your doctor. To wash your hair, insert a cotton ball into the ear canal and cover it with petroleum ointment to create a seal.
* If you have a pressure dressing on your ear, it should be removed 36 hours post-procedure unless you receive other instructions.
* It is likely that you will be given ear drops following surgery. When applying ear drops, lie down with the affected ear facing upwards and stay in this position for two minutes to facilitate the absorption of the drops. A cotton ball can be used for brief periods to catch drainage (such as while sleeping) or when exposed to excessive dust and dirt. Avoid using the ear cotton continuously and for extended periods.
* Ear drainage may appear reddish brown to brown colored, but it typically becomes clear and ceases within a week or two.
* Keep your head elevated while sleeping to help reduce swelling in the ear.
* Avoid blowing your nose. Any secretions in the nose should be pulled back and expelled through the mouth. Do not pinch your nose to avoid sneezing; instead, sneeze with your mouth open. Refrain from forceful exhalation similar to what is done when playing a wind musical instrument.
* For three weeks, do not engage in sports or vigorous physical activities (such as exercise or sexual intercourse), and refrain from returning to heavy work. Avoid straining all the time for three weeks. You should not travel by air until your doctor advises otherwise.
* Stay away from being exposed to colds or respiratory infections.
* You may experience bouts of vertigo (a spinning feeling) or dizziness (a lightheaded sensation) for several days. Take measures to prevent falls.
* Nausea might occur for up to 36 hours following general anesthesia.
* Your hearing may fluctuate, either improving or diminishing during the first six weeks. It is normal to notice cracking and popping in the ear, as well as a sensation that your head is “in a barrel. ”
* A nerve related to taste passes through the ear, so it is common for taste sensation to be slightly altered for several weeks or months after the surgery.
What is a mastoidectomy?
A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that eliminates infected mastoid air cells. These air cells exist in the empty areas within your mastoid — a sponge-like, honeycomb structure that is located just behind your ear.
Why is mastoidectomy performed?
A mastoidectomy becomes essential when an ear infection (otitis media) spreads to your skull. This procedure is also utilized to address cholesteatoma — a benign growth that develops behind your eardrum, frequently as a result of chronic ear infections. Often, mastoidectomy is done alongside cochlear implant surgery.
If you have a perforated eardrum, your surgeon will conduct a mastoidectomy along with tympanoplasty. Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at repairing your eardrum. Tympanoplasty may also refer to surgery conducted behind your eardrum even when no repair to your eardrum is needed.
Procedure Details
How serious is a mastoidectomy?
The complexity of the surgery varies based on your individual circumstances. A simple mastoidectomy addresses disease in your mastoid without affecting your ear canal and middle ear structures at all.
A canal-wall-up mastoidectomy or tympanomastoidectomy removes more bone than a simple mastoidectomy. This approach allows your surgeon to access the middle-ear area behind your eardrum, including your ossicles — the three small bones inside your ear that conduct sound waves. This technique keeps your ear canal completely intact.
A canal-wall-down mastoidectomy or tympanomastoidectomy is performed when illness has caused irreparable damage to your ear canal or when its removal is necessary for the thorough removal of disease. This procedure merges your ear canal and mastoid bone into a large open area referred to as a mastoid cavity, or mastoid bowl. The entrance of your ear canal is usually widened to make future cleaning of your mastoid cavity easier. This surgery is sometimes termed a radical or modified mastoidectomy, and it’s intended for severe disease or recurrent conditions that did not respond to more limited surgeries.
What happens before a mastoidectomy?
Your healthcare provider will provide you with a set of preoperative guidelines, which you need to adhere to strictly. In some instances, you may be required to temporarily cease certain medications. Since mastoidectomy is conducted under general anesthesia, you will also need to arrange for a reliable friend or family member to transport you to and from your appointment.
What happens during a mastoidectomy?
You will be placed under general anesthesia to guarantee your comfort throughout the procedure. Subsequently, your surgeon will:
Create an incision behind your ear to reach your mastoid bone. (The surgeon will position this incision carefully to minimize the visibility of your mastoidectomy scar. )
Utilize specialized instruments to open your mastoid bone.
Eliminate the infected air cells in your mastoid.
Sew up the surgical area with stitches.
Cover the surgical site with gauze.
A mastoidectomy operation generally takes approximately two to three hours to be completed.
How painful is a mastoidectomy?
You should not experience any pain during your mastoidectomy. Nonetheless, similar to any surgical procedure, a mastoidectomy may lead to some mild discomfort following the operation. The cut behind your ear is likely to be tender, and your ear may feel full or blocked. You can alleviate these side effects with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Your surgeon will also provide you with post-operative instructions to help ensure your comfort during the recovery process.
What occurs after a mastoidectomy?
After your mastoidectomy, you will awaken in the recovery area. Your medical team will keep track of your recovery — and once you are ready, you can go home. Your surgeon will provide you with specific post-operative guidelines. It is essential to adhere to these carefully.
Risks / Benefits
What are the benefits of a mastoidectomy?
A mastoidectomy can address chronic ear infections and reduce their recurrence. Additionally, the procedure may help avert severe complications associated with cholesteatoma, such as:
Hearing loss.
Vertigo.
Dizziness.
Facial nerve injury.
Labyrinthitis.
Meningitis.
Brain abscess.
What are the risks or complications of a mastoidectomy?
Like any surgical procedure, there are potential risks or complications. Complications from a mastoidectomy may include:
Inner ear hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss).
Facial nerve damage, which may lead to facial weakness or paralysis.
Altered taste, which commonly lasts a few months (dysgeusia).
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Recovery and Outlook
How long does recovery take after a mastoidectomy?
Complete recovery from a mastoidectomy generally takes about six to twelve weeks. However, the majority of individuals can resume work, school, and other daily activities within approximately one to two weeks.
What is the outlook for individuals who have mastoidectomy surgery?
Mastoidectomy is predominantly successful, but the outlook can differ depending on the reason for the surgery and the type of mastoidectomy performed. The main aim of a mastoidectomy is not to restore hearing, but to eradicate infection that could lead to additional issues. It’s important to recognize that some hearing loss is typical following a radical or canal-wall-down mastoidectomy.
When To Call the Doctor
When should I consult my healthcare provider?
If you have recently had a mastoidectomy, you should contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
A temperature of 100. 5 Fahrenheit (38. 05 Celsius) or higher.
Significant ear bleeding or discharge.
Facial weakness.
Dizziness or vertigo.
Hearing impairment.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you are facing recurring or persistent ear infections or complications from them, a mastoidectomy might be the most effective treatment option. Discuss your choices with your healthcare provider. They can inform you if a mastoidectomy is something worth considering. Mastoidectomy surgery can eliminate infection, enhancing your overall health and quality of life.
Discharge Instructions for Mastoidectomy
You underwent a procedure known as mastoidectomy. This involves the surgical removal of the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear. Your healthcare provider may perform this operation if your mastoid bone is infected or to eliminate growths from the middle ear. Here’s what you should know about aftercare at home following the surgery.
What to expect
Anticipate a small amount of drainage from the ear.
Do not be concerned if the skin of your outer ear is numb. This numbness is a result of the surgery. Sensation should return within a few months.
Ear and incision care
Maintain your head slightly elevated for the first 24 hours after returning home.
Avoid activities that cause your ears to pop. Do not blow your nose or exhale with your nose pinched shut.
Sneeze with your mouth open.
Shower as needed, beginning three days after your operation, or as advised by your healthcare provider. You may let water run over outer wounds, but do not scrub them.
Keep the ear dry. To prevent water from entering during a bath or shower, you may place a cotton ball coated with a small amount of petroleum jelly in the outer ear.
Follow your medication instructions precisely.
Activity
Refrain from any activities that involve heavy lifting or straining.
Obtain approval from your healthcare provider before flying or swimming.
Inquire with your provider about when you can resume work. There may be specific considerations based on the nature of your job.
Follow-up care
Schedule follow-up appointments as instructed by our staff. Your ear contains special packing material that may need to be removed at designated times.
When to get medical care
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following:
Increased redness or swelling around the ear
Dizziness or confusion
Unpleasant-smelling drainage from the ear or the incision
Ongoing headache
Double vision or blurred eyesight
Fever of 100. 4°F (38°C) or higher, or according to your healthcare provider’s instructions
Bright red bleeding
Difficulty swallowing
Facial droop
