Long-term post-operative follow-up of patients with chronic otitis media. Does it make sense?
Complications ('events') encountered during long-term post-operative follow-up (on average, 6.5 years) of 493 patients undergoing surgery for chronic otitis media or its sequelae were evaluated. After the immediate post-operative period (of 30 days), in 44% of the patients at least one event was detected, infection being the most common, followed by graft failure, hearing impairment and recurrence of cholesteatoma. It was concluded that post-operative follow-up is necessary in all patients with chronic otitis media. The suitable length of follow-up was estimated to be 8 years for patients with cholesteatoma, 7 years for patients with granulating otitis media and 5 years for patients operated on for the sequelae of otitis.
Vartiainen
E
E
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Virtaniemi
J
J
Vartiainen
J
J
D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D009225:Myringoplasty; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014433:Tympanoplasty