Hearing
Loss. Most patients will develop this. The average
conductive hearing loss after a
mastoidectomy
with removal of a
cholesteatoma
is 27 dB. Often it is greater. Remember the
primary goal of the surgery is the complete removal of the
cholesteatoma
not preservation of hearing. Rarely, the patient may lose all of
his hearing.
Chronic Draining Ear. Some
patients develop this. It should be remembered that unlike the drainage
from a
cholesteatoma
this drainage is from superficial inflammation of
the lining of the
mastoid bowel and is rarely dangerous. It
sometimes develops if
mucosa
( similar to the lining on the inside of
the nose ) as opposed to skin lines the
mastoid bowel. Almost all patients who under go a
canal wall down mastoidectomywill
need to have their
mastoid bowel
cleaned every 6 to 12 months. Daily irrigations with diluted
white vinegar ( 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water ) often helps to
keep the
mastoid bowel
clean. The
mixture should be warmed to body temperature before irrigating or
dizziness will be produced.
The next three complications are
unexpected but are encountered sometime in the carrier of most ENT
Surgeons. They often occur because the
cholesteatoma
has eroded
into and already damaged the structures of the inner ear and lining of
the brain. Removal of the
cholesteatoma
is then the final straw
which breaks the camel's back. It left untreated, the
cholesteatoma
will eventually cause these same problems
Vertigo or dizziness
Facial Paralysis
Injury to the lining of the brain.
Meningitis,
Stroke and Death -- Very rare complications. These can
also be caused by an untreated
cholesteatoma.
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