Nonshaved Ear Surgery: Effect of Hair on Surgical Site Infection of the Middle Ear/Mastoid Surgery and Patients’ Preference for the Hair Removal

AbstractIntroduction:‘Dead ear’ is a rare and serious complication of ear surgery. This paper presents an audit of this complication.Method:Over 6 years, data for all 617 middle-ear operations performed under the care of a single consultant were recorded for the International Otology Audit. All cases of dead ear were identified and assessed.Results:A post-operative dead ear occurred in 6 cases (approximately 1 per cent). No cases of post-operative dead ear occurred following the 83 otosclerosis operations and the 62 children's procedures. Amongst 187 adult patients undergoing mastoid surgery for cholesteatoma, there were 5 cases of post-operative dead ear (2.7 per cent of cases).Conclusion:The occurrence of dead ear after cholesteatoma surgery in adults is less rare than previously thought. This has implications for the surgical consenting process. The current series suggests that, whilst dead ear is often avoidable, it is sometimes inevitable.

Download Full-text

The value of head dressings for middle ear surgery

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215100122017 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 107 (1) ◽

pp. 17-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Julian M. Rowe-Jones ◽

Susanna E. J. Leighton

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Wound Closure ◽

Prospective Trial ◽

Wound Complication ◽

Operative Management ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Ear Surgery ◽

Mastoid Surgery ◽

Pressure Dressing

AbstractA prospective trial was performed to ascertain the value of head dressings in the post-operative management of patients undergoing middle ear and mastoid surgery. One hundred consecutive patients were randomly allocated to a head dressing or no head dressing group after wound closure.Nine patients in the head dressing group developed a wound complication as opposed to four patients in the no head dressing group.The application of a pressure dressing following middle ear and mastoid surgery is unnecessary and may contribute to increased wound morbidity.

Download Full-text

Does preoperative hair removal reduce postoperative surgical site infection?

Cochrane Clinical Answers ◽

10.1002/cca.3858 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jane Burch ◽

Sascha Köpke

Keyword(s):

Surgical Site Infection ◽

Hair Removal ◽

Site Infection ◽

Preoperative Hair Removal

Download Full-text

Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1002/14651858.cd004122.pub5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Judith Tanner ◽

Kate Melen

Keyword(s):

Surgical Site Infection ◽

Hair Removal ◽

Site Infection ◽

Preoperative Hair Removal

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Taste Disturbance in Pre and Post Mastoid Surgery Patients

Journal of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences ◽

10.3126/jbpkihs.v2i2.27851 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 4-11

Author(s):

Sriti Manandhar ◽

ST Chettri ◽

DR Kandel

Keyword(s):

Tympanic Membrane ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Analytical Study ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Chorda Tympani ◽

Chorda Tympani Nerve ◽

Ear Surgery ◽

Taste Disturbance ◽

Duration Of Operation ◽

Mastoid Surgery

Background: Mastoid surgery is one of the commonest surgeries in Otolaryngology & Head & Neck department. Surgeons are less aware of preserving chorda tympani nerve (CT). Injury to the chord tympani nerve is common in middle ear surgery as the course of CT runs between ossicles and close to tympanic membrane. It makes the surgeon difficult to preserve it during the surgery. The study was done to observe frequency of taste disturbances (TD) in all patients undergoing mastoid surgery and to correlate between intra operative status of CT and type of intra operative status of CT injury with postoperative taste disturbances. Methods: A prospective analytical study was conducted in patients who underwent mastoid surgery. The intra operative status of CT was studied, different forms of injury to the nerve were noticed and its impact on taste disturbances was assessed subjectively with questionnaire. The patients with taste disturbances were followed till twelve weeks. Result: None of the patients had taste disturbances prior to surgery. Out of 65 patients, only 15 patients became symptomatic in second postoperative day and the taste disturbances were in the form of altered taste (26.66%), dry mouth (26.66%) and numbness (46.66%). Symptoms like altered taste and numbness were present till the eighth week of surgery and disappeared by the twelfth week except one patient in whom numbness persisted till twelfth week. The symptoms did not correlate with the intra operative status of CT. The symptoms disappeared with duration of operation and it was significant. Conclusion: None of the patients voluntarily complained regarding taste disturbances until they were specifically asked. Only 15 patients had taste disturbances; 7 had numbness, 4 dryness of mouth and 4altered taste. The taste disturbances did not correlate with the type of intra operative status of CT. CT was not identified in 9 patients and only 3 (33.3%) became symptomatic and CT was cut with micro scissors in 26 patients but only 4 (15.38%) patients were symptomatic.

Download Full-text