[Causes of failure in open cavity mastoidectomy]

We assessed the causes of failure in patients who underwent open cavity mastoidectomy.

Of sixty-three patients who had undergone open cavity mastoidectomy for chronic otitis media, 11 patients (7 females, 4 males; mean age 35.2 years; range 8 to 59 years) required revision mastoidectomy. Membrane repair was accomplished with the use of temporal muscle fascia and tragal cartilage; ossicular reconstruction was performed by the interposition of incus and TORP. The mean follow-up was 13.1 months (range 6 months to 2 years).

The involved ear was the right in seven and the left in four patients. None of the patients, but one with nasal allergy had any immune or systemic diseases. In all patients cavity epithelialization was completed in a mean of 1.6 months (range 1 to 3 months). The indications for revision included residual cholesteatoma in three patients, inadequate meatoplasty and lowering of the facial ridge in four patients, patent tuba and serous discharge in two patients, and tympanic membrane perforation and granulation tissue in the hypotympanum and mastoid apex in two patients.

The incidence of revision mastoidectomy may be decreased when a safe open cavity is obtained through lowering the facial bridge down to the level of the facial nerve, adequate meatoplasty, and by a complete exenteration of all the mastoid cells.