Chronic Otitis Media
Chronic Otitis Media Overview
Otitis media is a general term for all inflammatory changes occurring in the middle ear cavity; if it persists for more than three months, it is classified as chronic otitis media.
Chronic Otitis Media Symptoms
Iru
If inflammation recurs repeatedly, the eardrum can break down, causing a hole to form and fluid to leak out.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss occurs when the bones in the ear that transmit sound deteriorate. If toxins or bacteria caused by inflammation damage the cochlea or the auditory nerve, hearing loss worsens, and you may experience ringing in the ears, headaches, or dizziness.
Facial Paralysis
If the facial nerve inside the ear becomes inflamed or compressed due to otitis media, it can lead to facial paralysis, causing the mouth or face to droop.
Pearl Oyster
Unlike typical chronic otitis media, a cholesteatoma is a condition in which the eardrum retracts into the ear, forming a sac filled with white, keratinous debris. Because cholesteatoma tends to grow by destroying the inner ear, it frequently causes more severe complications—such as hearing loss, dizziness, headaches, and facial paralysis—than typical chronic otitis media.
Chronic Otitis Media Treatment
When inflammation worsens acutely and causes oozing, draining the fluid and administering medication can stop the oozing immediately. However, just because the oozing has stopped does not mean the inflammation has been completely cured.
Chronic otitis media involves inflammation that has spread not only to the eardrum but also to the bone surrounding the ear (the mastoid cavity), and because bacteria can easily enter through a perforated eardrum, the condition cannot be completely cured until a new eardrum is created and the inflammation that has spread deep into the bone is removed.
The purpose of otitis media surgery is to remove inflammation to prevent discharge, reconstruct the eardrum to block bacterial entry and keep the ear clean, and improve hearing.
There are many different types of surgery for otitis media, including procedures to reconstruct the eardrum (such as tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy), procedures to remove inflammation from the mastoid cavity (the area within the bones surrounding the ear), ossicular reconstruction, artificial ossicle implantation, and external auditory canal dilation. To reconstruct the eardrum, surgeons typically use a membrane (fascia) from a muscle in the side of the head and graft it onto the perforated eardrum. Depending on the condition of the ear, various surgeries may be performed separately or simultaneously.
The surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia after making an incision behind the ear and requires a 1- to 2-day hospital stay followed by about 4 to 6 weeks of outpatient care.
Otitis Media Treatment System
01
Diagnosis
Check for Rhinitis
- Intranasal Examination
- Nasal Endoscopy
- Sinus X-ray
- Allergy Testing
02
PLAN
When Surgery Is Necessary
- Intranasal Airflow Test
- Olfactory Test
- Blood Test
- Urinalysis
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) Test
03
Surgery
1 DAY System
- Same-Day Admission, Surgery, and Discharge
- High-Frequency Surgical Equipment
- (Used in Sutter, Germany)
- Use of CO2 Laser Surgical Equipment
04
Postoperative Care
Preventing Recurrence
- Visit the clinic twice a week for the first 3 weeks after surgery
- After that, please visit the clinic depending on your condition
- Regular checkups twice a year
Otitis Media Types of Surgery and Their Effects
- This surgery is performed when inflammation is confined to the eardrum or the middle ear; it is conducted under local anesthesia and takes about one hour.
- This surgery is performed in cases of severe inflammation. It is conducted under general anesthesia and takes about 2 hours. Depending on the condition of the ear, the procedure may be performed through the ear canal (external auditory canal) without leaving a large external scar, or through an incision behind the ear.
By reducing inflammation
Prevents oozing.
Reconstruct the eardrum
It prevents bacterial invasion.
Keeping the inside of your ear clean
I will maintain it.
Hearing
We are making improvements.
Otitis Media Surgical Outcomes
Patients can be discharged the same day for procedures performed under local anesthesia, while those requiring general anesthesia will need to stay in the hospital for about 1 to 2 days.
Available starting one week after surgery
Complete regeneration occurs 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. However, depending on the type of surgery, a longer period may be required.
If a laryngoplasty is performed at the same time, discharge may occur for up to 3 months after surgery.
In cases where the inflammation is not severe, hearing can usually be restored with a single surgery; however, in cases of severe inflammation, surgery to remove the inflammation may be performed first, followed by surgery to improve hearing. This second surgery to improve hearing is typically performed under local anesthesia at least six months after the initial surgery.
After surgery Important Notes
Hearing usually recovers after surgery, but in less than 3% of patients, hearing may actually deteriorate further after surgery. Occasionally, persistent ear discharge, tinnitus, and dizziness may occur.
Temporary facial nerve paralysis may also occur.
If you experience mild pain inside or around your ear, or if the discharge worsens, consult a doctor immediately.
Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have about ear discomfort. We hope you maintain healthy ears through proper diagnosis and treatment.