Ctoma Surgery

[Guest guest]

I had surgery today. Yes today. I went in at noon. Its 7:40 ish

now. I am on Percoset, but so far don't feel too bad. My

cholesteatoma was about the size of the end of my surgeon's thumb, he

said. He went in behind my ear so I have some shaved skin and

stitches that will dissolve. The interior packing he uses dissolves

and the packing in the canal will be removed at my post op

appointment in two weeks. I was really nervous about that

anaesthesia, but everything was just great. I had a little nausea

when I got home (to my parent's house - they're taking care of my

daughter and I while we go through all of this) but ate and feel much

better.

I was really lucky with an early daignosis. And a great surgeon. He

had planned to put apiece of titanium in to replace my anvil bone

that had been blunted by the ctoma, but decided to wait and see - it

looks like it might " work " after all.

I tried really hard not to be too nervous about the surgery, and I am

glad that it went so smoothly. Definitely advances in drugs and

technology make a difference from the last time I had a surgery!

I'll update on my progress. I found it helpful to read about Jan's

surgery.

[Guest guest]

Kenna,

IMHO...

I had something similar, a small c-toma, found very early. The ENT based his

time estimates on the CT Scan. As we have all found out, a CT Scan is a poor

indicator of the extent of the disease. Often the physiology of the inner ear,

mastoid and Prussak's space itself will mask the true extent. ENT's simply will

not know until they 'get in' there.

In my case the c-toma only affected the malleus and then moved rearward, instead

of consuming the stapes and incus. Therefore no reconstruction, only a

mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty.

I am only about 20 days post surgery so I can not comment on the cracking noises

etc. I have some tinnitus but since there is still a small plug holding the ear

drum graft in place my observations are limited. I suspect these noise are a

combination of healing, crusted cells and blood and the recreation of blood

vessels etc. I would think this is all perfectly normal.

Hope this helps

>

> Hey all,

>

>

>

> Quick question, I read that if the CToma is small then its a simple

> procedure with no repair of the ossicles. I never had a reconstruction, only

> surgery to remove the ctoma and my eardrum repaired, so why did it take over

> 4 and a half hours? If it was small surely he'd be in and out in no time.

> He's told me that my facial nerve and taste nerve (i think) were untouched

> so it seems a straightforward procedure.

>

>

>

> Also, I had my surgery nearly 2 months ago yet I am still hearing noises in

> my ear, like my pulse and cracking, is this normal?

>

>

>

> Thank you!

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter surgery took five and half hours just to remove a ctoma.  They planned on doing the reconstruction surgery but found the ctoma was much deeper than thought so she will have reconstruction in Januray.  The doctor said that it is such a small area to work in that it is tedious  work that takes a long time.  They really do not know the full extent till they go in and operate.  I would not be worried about the length of time it took.  I can not answer about the noises.

Wood     On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 3:28 AM, Kenna Balion <kenna_balion@...> wrote:

 

Hey all,

 

Quick question, I read that if the CToma is small then its a

simple procedure with no repair of the ossicles. I never had a reconstruction, only

 surgery to remove the ctoma and my eardrum repaired, so why did it take

over 4 and a half hours? If it was small surely he’d be in and out in no

time. He’s told me that my facial nerve and taste nerve (i think) were

untouched so it seems a straightforward procedure.

 

Also, I had my surgery nearly 2 months ago yet I am still

hearing noises in my ear, like my pulse and cracking, is this normal?

 

Thank you!