Mastoidectomy

What is a Mastoidectomy?

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. The mastoid is the part of your skull located behind your ear. It’s filled with air cells made of bone and looks like a honey comb. The diseased cells are often the result of an ear infection that has spread into your skull. The procedure can also be used to remove an abnormal growth of the ear known as a cholesteatoma.

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Before Mastoidectomy

Why do I need a mastoidectomy?

A mastoidectomy can treat complications of chronic otitis media (COM). COM is an ongoing ear infection in your middle ear. A cholesteatoma, which is a skin cyst, can be a complication from these ongoing infections. The cyst grows gradually over time and may lead to serious complications such as:

. Abscess in the brain

. Deafness

. Dizziness or vertigo

. Damage to your facial nerve that causes facial paralysis

. Meningitis, or inflammation of the membranes of your brain

. Labyrinthitis, or inflammation of your inner ear

. Ongoing ear drainage

Your doctor may also perform a mastoidectomy to put in a cochlear implant. This small, complex electronic device can help provide you with a sense of sound if you’re profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing.

This surgery can also remove abnormal growths at the base of your skull.

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What complications are associated with a mastoidectomy?

Complications of a mastoidectomy can include:

. Facial nerve paralysis or weakness, which is a rare complication caused by facial nerve injury.

. Sensorineural hearing loss, which is a type of inner ear hearing loss

. Dizziness or vertigo, which may persist for several days

. A change in taste that causes food to seem metallic, sour, or otherwise off, and often resolves after a few months.

. Tinnitus, which causes abnormal noises in your ear such as ringing, buzzing, and hissing.

Call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. You should also call your doctor if you have heavy ear bleeding or discharge, a fever over 100.5°F (38°C), or if your wound is not healing properly.

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During Mastoidectomy

Types of Mastoidectomy

There are variations of mastoidectomy procedures, including:

. Simple mastoidectomy, in which your surgeon opens your mastoid bone, removes the infected air cells, and drains your middle ear

. Radical mastoidectomy, in which your surgeon may remove your mastoid air cells, your eardrum, most of your middle ear structures, and your ear canal. This procedure is reserved for complicated mastoid disease.

. Modified radical mastoidectomy, which is a less severe form of radical mastoidectomy that involves removing mastoid air cells along with some, but not all, middle ear structures

You can expect some hearing loss from a radical and modified radical mastoidectomy.

How is a mastoidectomy performed?

Your doctor usually performs a mastoidectomy using general anesthesia. This ensures that you’re asleep and unable to feel pain. For a simple mastoidectomy, your surgeon will usually:

. Access your mastoid bone through a cut made behind your ear.

. Use a microscope and a small drill to open your mastoid bone.

. Use suction irrigation to keep the surgical area free of bone dust.

. Drill out the infected air cells.

. Stitch up the operative site.

. Cover the site with gauze to keep the wound clean and dry.

Your surgeon may also use a facial nerve monitor during surgery. This helps to limit injury to the facial nerve.

After Mastoidectomy

What is the recovery process after a mastoidectomy?

You can expect to have bandages over your ear when you wake up. There will also be stitches close to your ear. You may have a headache, discomfort, and some numbness.

After surgery, your doctor may:

. Prescribe pain medication

. Give you antibiotics to treat any infection

. Ask you to schedule a return for wound check and removal of any bandages and stitches.

Follow your doctor’s specific instructions on caring for your wound, as well when you can swim or bathe. You should avoid all strenuous activity for at least two to four weeks afterward, depending on your surgery. Also refrain from putting pressure on your ear.

What is the long-term outlook?

The outlook varies depending on the reason for the mastoidectomy and the type of mastoidectomy procedure. Some hearing loss is common with both modified radical and radical mastoidectomy.

You need to have regular follow-up appointments with your doctor if you had a cholesteatoma. At your post-operative follow-up, your doctor will check to make sure that your ear is healing correctly and that any complications are resolving.

Source:

. https://www.healthline.com/health/mastoidectomy

How long does Mastoidectomy surgery take?

The operation is performed through a cut behind your ear, with you asleep under a general anaesthetic for approximately 2 to 4 hours.

Is a Mastoidectomy outpatient surgery?

A mastoidectomy is a surgery done on the temporal bone structures to remove the parts with chronic disease. This can also be done to gain access to problems deeper in the ear and skull.

Is a Mastoidectomy painful?

You will be given a prescription for a pain medication, which may be taken for the first several days after surgery. Mild, intermittent ear pain is not unusual during the first 2 weeks after surgery. Pain above or in front of the ear is common when chewing.

Is Mastoidectomy considered major surgery?

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. … radical mastoidectomy, in which your surgeon may remove your mastoid air cells, your eardrum, most of your middle ear structures, and your ear canal.

Is mastoid surgery dangerous?

Complications of mastoiditis If the mastoid bone is severely infected and isn’t removed, it can cause hearing loss and life-threatening health complications such as: a blood clot. meningitis. a brain abscess

How common is a Mastoidectomy?

Mastoidectomy. Mastoidectomy is the most common otologic procedure that is complicated by facial-nerve injury (typically to the tympanic segment), with a reported incidence of 1% to 5%.4 Injury to the nerve may also occur during tympanoplasty and during the removal of exostoses of the external auditory canal

What can you not do after ear surgery?

You should avoid all activities that may increase the blood pressure in the head area. Therefore, avoid all bending over and lifting heavy objects for at least two weeks after surgery. You should not blow your nose for three weeks. Try to avoid sneezing for the first several weeks post-operatively.

Can I drink alcohol after ear surgery?

Do not drink alcohol, including beer. Avoid lifting anything over 10 pounds.

How long does it take to recover from cholesteatoma surgery?

At two to four months after surgery, the middle ear fluid reaction to surgery gradually clears. The hearing may fluctuate as the ear crackles and pops open. Sometimes, taste disturbance occurs, but usually clears within a few weeks to a few months. It can be permanent, especially if disease surrounds the taste nerve.

Why is Mastoidectomy done?

A mastoidectomy is a procedure performed to remove the mastoid air cells. This can be done as part of treatment for mastoiditis, chronic suppurative otitis media or cholesteatoma. In addition, it is sometimes performed as part of other procedures (cochlear implant) or for access to the middle ear.

Mastoidectomy procedure