title: Quality-of-life assessment after primary and revision ear surgery using the chronic ear survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure subjective outcomes after primary and revision surgery for chronic ear disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective questionnaire-based outcome study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults with chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary or revision surgery for chronic ear disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Chronic Ear Survey, a disease-specific outcome survey, was administered preoperatively and at 1 year after surgery. We analyzed the total score and the activity restriction, symptom, and medical resource utilization subscale scores. Scores were averaged on the basis of the number of questions included in each category. Differences in preoperative and postoperative scores were analyzed within and between the 2 groups. We also assessed audiometry, postoperative complications, and the clinical condition of the operated-on ear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients were enrolled in the primary surgery group, and 20 were enrolled in the revision surgery group. Significant improvements in the total score and each subscale score were observed in both groups at the 1-year postoperative survey. Improvements in the total score and symptom subscale scores were greater in the primary surgery group than in the revision surgery group (P < .05). The air conduction thresholds and any postoperative clinical problems were correlated with the total score and subscale scores in the primary group but not in the revision surgery group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparable objective outcomes are achieved after primary and revision surgery for chronic ear disease, but the improvement in quality of life is greater in the primary surgery group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yang-Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Won-Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Gil Joon
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Duk
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty