title: Mastoidectomy for acute otomastoiditis: our experience.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective study of 53 mastoidectomies in 51 patients with acute otomastoiditis. In 26 cases (49.1%), surgery had been performed within 48 hours of the development of symptoms. The most common complication of acute otomastoiditis was subperiosteal abscess, which occurred in 37 cases (69.8%). Intracranial complications were seen in 6 cases (11.3%). The most common pathogens isolated from subperiosteal abscesses, the mastoid cavity, and intracranial collections were Streptococcus spp and Staphylococcus aureus. In 14 cases (26.4%), conservative treatment failed to cure acute otomastoiditis; such cases should raise a suspicion of a subperiosteal abscess, an underlying cholesteatoma, or an infection caused by gram-negative bacteria. Upon hospital admission, patients should receive antibiotics that are effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Patients with intracranial complications or facial nerve paralysis may require a combination of two or more antibiotics. Long-term follow-up is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv. smigirov@leumit.co.il
authors.forename: Lela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Migirov
authors.forename: Jona
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kronenberg
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications