CAVITY PROBLEMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN POST MODIFIED RADICAL MASTOIDECTOMY IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION - A CLINICAL AUDIT

Objective: To find out the intensity and frequency of cavity problems of persistent and recurrent ear discharge in young children and their management in post Modified Radical Mastoidectomy (MRM). Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT Head & Neck Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital MTI Peshawar Pakistan, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2019. Methodology: Fifty-four patients with cavity problems of persistent and recurrent ear discharge needing treatment were included in the study (out of the total patients 234 operated upon). Patients were followed up for one year for any discharge of the mastoid cavity. Patients of both gender of age 15 years or younger were included in the study. Results: In this study the cavity problems were found in 23.1% (54 out of 234) of the post modified radical mastoidectomy in pediatric population. There were no surgery related problems in 61.1% patients. In 38.9% (21 out of 54) percent patients repeat mastoidectomy was performed. Where as in 37% (20 out of 54) excision of granulation and conservative management was sufficient in curing the disease. High facial ridge was found to be the most common cause of persistent/recurrent discharge 9 out of 54 (16.7%). The independent variables (Indications for repeat mastoidectomy, Factors causing discharge, Surgery related problems) support the dependent variable treatment outcome. The sig/p-value was zero therefore the result was significant. Conclusion: In post Modified Radical Mastoidectomy, the cavity can be dry provided meticulous care is given to complete exenteration of disease from all areas........

Cholesteatoma extending into the sternocleidomastoid muscle presenting as a Bezold abscess

Cholesteatoma is a non-neoplastic cystic lesion arising in the middle ear cleft with the propensity to spread and recur after surgery, but it is unusual to find cholesteatoma invading sternocleidomastoid muscle after 15 years of modified radical mastoidectomy and presenting as Bezold abscess. In this report, the authors highlight the fact that cholesteatoma recurrence if neglected can present as a Bezold abscess with the invasion of cholesteatoma from the mastoid tip into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This requires complete excision of the cholesteatoma sac along with the surrounding soft tissue.

Mastoid cavity obliteration with bone dust: a retrospective study of 34 cases

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic suppurative otitis media leads to ear discharge with hearing loss with squamosal type often presents with cholesteatoma and mainstay of treatment is surgical. Modified radical mastoidectomy is the ideal surgical option in these cases but it results in open mastoid cavity formation with certain common cavity problems. This study done to find the results of mastoid cavity obliteration with autologous bone dust and how this technique is effective in avoiding long term cavity problems and assists in ossiculoplasty.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective observational study done in a tertiary care hospital. Patients presented with squamosal type of chronic otitis media were operated for a canal wall down modified radical mastoidectomy.The mastoid cavity was obliterated using bone dust. A follow up of the patients was done and the healing of the cavity with the hearing result assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study includes total of 34 patients. 58.82% were male and 41.18% were female. All patients underwent canal wall down modified radical mastoidectomy and obliteration of the mastoid cavity was done with bone dust. The common cavity problems of discharge, debris were markedly reduced in an obliterated cavity with better healing of the cavity. The middle ear aeration was maintained assisting the ossicular reconstruction.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study showed that mastoid cavity obliteration with bone dust offers significant long term benefits in providing dry, well epithelized cavity at the same time assisting in ossicular reconstruction.</p>

Dandy-Walker variant: a diagnosis by clinical and CT evaluation in a tertiary hospital in Nepal

<p class="abstract">Dandy-Walker variant (DWV) has been used to describe a combination of cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle and hypoplastic cerebellar vermis in the absence of an enlargement of the posterior fossa. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for diagnosing DWV. But it can also be diagnosed by evaluating the subject clinically and by CT scans. We presented here a case report of a patient with DWV who was diagnosed by clinical evaluation and CT scans. A 15 years old girl presented with the symptoms of pain and ear discharge from both ears. She had developmental delay, mental retardation and poor nutritional status. The CT scan of the patient showed a posterior fossa cyst with hypoplastic vermis and communicating hydrocephalus without obvious enlargement of the posterior fossa. Hence, a diagnosis of DWV was made. For the ear pathology, she underwent modified radical mastoidectomy and other medical treatments.</p>

Congenital Cholesteatoma in Adult: Is it Still Possible?

Congenital cholesteatoma is a mass of squamous epithelium located medial to an intact tympanic membrane without previous history of tympanic membrane perforation, otorrhoea or otological surgery. We described a 24 year old gentleman with a left postauricular discharging fistula for 3 years with recent history of gradual hearing loss, tinnitus and recurrent episodes of positional vertigo. Clinical examination noted left postauricular fistula opening and otoscopy showed a whitish mass medial to a bulging intact tympanic membrane. High-resolution computed tomography of temporal bone was suggestive of cholesteatoma. Left modified radical mastoidectomy was done and he recovered with resolution of symptoms. Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol; April 2021; 27(1): 96-99

Double Trouble of Double Fistulae

The complications of attico-antral type of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) are severe due to underlying bone erosion. We describe a case of a 40-year-old lady with attico-antral CSOM and mastoiditis with a postauricular fistula, who underwent modified radical mastoidectomy with excision of the postauricular cutaneous mastoid fistula. Interestingly, another fistula over the dome of lateral semicircular canal was noted intraoperatively.Few reports of occurrence of postauricular mastoid fistula with a labyrinthine fistula have been documented.

Does Drilling Induce Hearing Loss after Modified Radical Mastoidectomy? A Retrospective Study

Introduction Incidence of sensory neural hearing loss following mastoid surgery varies from 1.2 – 4.5%.There are various causes for postoperative sensorineural hearing loss during mastoid surgery. This study aims to identify whether there is any correlation between drilling and postoperative sensory neural hearing loss. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted in the Department of ENT from January 2018 to June 2019. A total number of 68 patients above five years of age who underwent modified radical mastoidectomy for chronic otitis media squamous were included. Revision surgery, preoperative sensorineural hearing loss, injury to the ossicular chain during surgery, patients with lack of follow up or doubtful reports in mentally challenged were excluded from the study. The average bone conduction threshold was calculated from 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz and compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. ResultsThere were 43 males and 25 females in the study with a median age of 23.5 years (16-55). The mean preoperative bone conduction threshold in the four frequencies of 500 Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz were -2.06dB, -2.06dB, 3.31dB, 4.63 dB respectively and the mean postoperative bone conduction thresholds were 1.03, 1.32, 5.29, 4.04 respectively. There was a decline of mean of 3.09 dB and 3.38dB only at the low-frequencies (500Hz and 1kHz) BC threshold respectively which were statistically significant, whereas at higher frequency there was no decline in average postoperative BC threshold. ConclusionThere is no definite role of drill in inducing hearing loss and if present other causes of hearing loss should be sought in postoperative sensorineural hearing loss.

Congenital Cholesteatoma in A Case of Congenital Aural Atresia: A Case Report

Congenital external canal atresia is one of the congenital ear anomalies that can occur in patients. Similarly, congenital cholesteatoma is also another congenital disease that is often diagnosed in early adulthood. Both the above-mentioned diseases can occur independently but the presence of both these entities is a rare occurrence and needs a high degree of suspicion aided by a computed tomography scan to make the diagnosis. We are presenting a case of a sixteen-year-old patient who presented with unilateral ear anomaly, earache, facial palsy, and postaural swelling and was diagnosed as a right sided congenital aural atresia with congenital cholesteatoma. He was surgically managed with right-sided modified radical mastoidectomy with canaloplasty and closure of mastoid fistula under general anesthesia.

Study and reflection on anesthesia for tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disease that may cause unexpected difficult intubation. There is no available consensus on the management of difficult intubation that is associated with TO. A 45-year-old woman was scheduled for modified radical mastoidectomy, canaloplasty, and tympanoplasty under general anesthesia. We encountered significant resistance during tracheal intubation, although the laryngeal view was normal with the video laryngoscope. A fiberoptic bronchoscope was then used to facilitate intubation, and we noted that the trachea was obviously narrowed due to cartilaginous ring hypertrophy. The tracheal tube was fully lubricated with tetracaine gel, and smoothly inserted into the trachea. After the operation, bronchoscopy and a computed tomography (CT) scan were performed to confirm the diagnosis of TO. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy-assisted tracheal intubation is safe and effective choice for the patients in whom subglottic intubation is difficult. CT scan and bronchoscopy might be helpful for preoperative airway assessment. Identifying patients with TO is important to avoid unexpected tracheal intubation impediment. Assessment of the subglottic airway should also be taken seriously.