Cholesteatoma and Its Treatment (Chronic Ear Infection)
Cholesteatoma is a tissue disorder that develops in the middle ear and, if left untreated, can lead to severe hearing loss and infections. It often results from chronic ear infections.
Take the First Step Now
Free Preliminary Consultation
Schedule your free initial consultation with Prof. Dr. Mustafa Deniz Yılmaz now. Take the first step in your treatment process and let’s start your journey to regain your health with personalized solutions.
Why Does Cholesteatoma Require Surgery?
Cholesteatoma is an inflammatory, growing mass or cyst that forms due to an accumulation of abnormal skin cells in the middle ear or mastoid bone. This accumulation can damage the middle ear and surrounding bone tissue, leading to severe complications if untreated.
Reasons for Surgery:
- Destructive Growth: As cholesteatoma grows, it can damage the structures in the middle ear, leading to hearing loss, dizziness, and facial nerve damage.
- Inflammation and Infection: Cholesteatoma can cause recurrent ear infections. If these infections are not controlled, they may lead to serious complications such as meningitis.
- Hearing Loss: Cholesteatoma can damage the ossicles, which are part of the hearing mechanism, resulting in hearing loss. Surgery aims to protect or repair these structures.
- Facial Nerve Paralysis: Cholesteatoma growth can compress the facial nerve, causing facial paralysis, which can be prevented or treated with surgery.
- Risk of Brain Infection: If left untreated, cholesteatoma may erode bone structures and spread to areas near brain tissue, which can be life-threatening.
Surgery aims to completely remove the cholesteatoma and repair any damaged structures. If untreated, cholesteatoma can cause permanent hearing loss and other serious health issues, so surgery is typically required.
What Are the Risks of Surgery?
Possible complications include anesthesia-related risks, hearing loss, dizziness, and facial nerve damage.
How Long Does the Surgery Take?
Surgery usually takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the extent of the cholesteatoma.
What Is the Recovery Process Like After Surgery?
The recovery process after cholesteatoma surgery depends on the patient’s overall health, the scope of the surgery, and the procedures performed during surgery. Generally, the recovery process proceeds as follows:
First Few Days:
- Hospital Discharge: Most patients are discharged on the day of surgery or the day after. Some may stay in the hospital overnight for observation.
- Pain and Discomfort: Mild to moderate pain and discomfort may be felt post-surgery. The doctor will prescribe pain relievers to manage this.
- Dizziness and Balance Issues: Patients may experience dizziness and balance issues, especially if middle ear structures were involved. These symptoms usually subside within a few days.
First Week:
- Rest: Patients are advised to rest during the first week and avoid strenuous activities. Refraining from vigorous activities and sudden head movements is essential.
- Ear Care: Dressings and packing placed in the ear canal during surgery are usually removed after a week. During this period, the doctor will advise you to keep water out of the ear.
- Infection Risk: Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection. Your doctor will inform you about recognizing signs of infection.
2–4 Weeks After Surgery:
Returning to Daily Life: Most patients can resume normal daily activities by the second or third week post-surgery. However, full recovery time may vary by individual.
Hearing Evaluation: A few weeks after surgery, the doctor may perform hearing tests to assess your hearing. Some patients experience significant improvement, while others may recover more gradually.
Long-Term Follow-Up:
Regular Checkups: Regular follow-up visits with your doctor are essential after cholesteatoma surgery. In the first year post-surgery, checkups are scheduled at intervals to monitor for recurrence.
Possible Second Surgery: In rare cases, cholesteatoma may recur, necessitating a second surgery. This is monitored during regular follow-ups.
Lifestyle Recommendations:
Ear Hygiene: Be cautious about getting water in your ear during baths and use earplugs recommended by your doctor.
Balance and Movement: Patients with dizziness and balance issues should avoid sudden movements during recovery and move carefully.
The recovery process after cholesteatoma surgery is generally positive, but individual differences may occur. If you experience any issues or unexpected situations, contact your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cholesteatoma
How will my hearing be affected after surgery?
Some patients with hearing loss may experience improvement in hearing post-surgery, but full recovery cannot always be expected.
Can cholesteatoma recur after surgery?
Yes, cholesteatoma can recur, so regular follow-up is essential.
Is surgery performed under general anesthesia?
Yes, it is generally performed under general anesthesia.
Will there be pain after surgery?
There may be pain after surgery, but it is usually manageable with medication.
What happens if I don’t have the surgery?
Untreated cholesteatoma can lead to serious complications, such as hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, or brain infections.
How long will I need to stay in the hospital after surgery?
Most patients may need to stay overnight in the hospital.
I found Dr. Mustafa as a result of my research and went to him with the complaint of lack of ventilation of the Eustachian tube and decreased hearing. I had had surgery on the ear many times before, so he looked at my nose and said that there was a curvature in the nasal bone and a serious devaluation. If we correct it, it would benefit the ear and it would help me breathe in the future. So we did the surgery. We decided to be together, now I'm getting some fresh air and my hearing has improved a little, he said I'll be better, may God bless him, his communication and friendliness was very good, I'm glad to have you. my teacher
Hello, I have had a Vertigo disorder that has not gone away for three years. I reached out to our esteemed teacher Mustafa Deniz upon his advice. Thanks to the medications he gave as a result of the maneuvers and examinations he made, I have not had any dizziness for 4 months. Thank you very much to our esteemed teacher and his teammates, I am glad to have you, best regards.
If you are reading this article right now, you are in search of information like us. For this reason, I will tell our story in a little detail so that maybe it will be of some help to you. My daughter is 3 years old, we take her to our pediatrician regularly and when necessary. Our adventure started with nasal congestion. I am talking about a congestion that does not go away even though we constantly open it. Afterwards, mouth opening and snoring. When we asked our pediatrician about this situation, he referred us to Mustafa Hodja. After the examination of the adenoid size, He said it was 90%. We heard the sentence we didn't want: 'There should be surgery.' You'll be right, as a mother, I didn't want to have a young child undergo surgery right away. I even shared the situation with my pediatrician. He said, 'If Mustafa Hodja says, get it done, he won't say it easily. Make an appointment right away. We created the surgery and two days later, my baby had surgery. The only difficult thing about this surgery was waiting outside while your child was inside. Apart from that, everything was very planned and professional. The evening we came home, my baby was not snoring. He slept and we were incredibly surprised by this situation. We did not experience any negative situation. I would like to express our endless gratitude to Mustafa Hodja once again. Ms. Ayşegül, who did the programming, guided us very well. I am glad our paths crossed. Sleep without snoring, may the children be happy❤️
I went to the doctor with a complaint of symptom perforation. He said that he could easily close it after the examination. I had my surgery in April 2024. He also performed deviation and nose tip aesthetics. My priority was, of course, to repair the perforation. Thank God, the hole closed and I also had a beautiful nose. My recovery process is still ongoing, it was a long and difficult surgery, but I can breathe healthy. During this process, Ms. Ayşegül was always just a phone call away. I also thank him very much for his interest.
I applied to my doctor with the complaint of septal perforation. I had surgery. It has been 5 months since my surgery and I am seriously relieved. Thank you very much to my doctor and his team...
Septal perforation Due to a nose surgery I had years ago, there were 2 huge holes and no cartilage was left in the nose. I could breathe very hard because all the cartilage in my nose had worn away. I did a lot of research and consulted many doctors. They said it was a very risky surgery, they said we couldn't do it. I tried a lot, I researched a lot, and lastly, Mustafa Deniz. I met my doctor Yilmaz, I found his clinic and went to be examined, he said that it was a risky surgery but he could do it. Actually, I had some fears, but after the examination, he made me overcome that fear. I had septal performance and plastic surgery. It took about 11 hours. It took 4 months. I got excellent results. The holes in my nose were closed, with the cartilage taken from the rib. My nose has become more beautiful again than before. I can breathe very easily. I would like to thank my teacher Mustafa very much. He is a very good teacher, I think he is the best in this field.
I repaired the hole in my nose painlessly and regained my health very quickly, thanks to our teacher. Thank you again.
We left Van and came to Antalya for my teacher Mustafa Deniz Yılmaz. He was very friendly and helped us a lot, he took one-on-one attention. My surgery was very difficult. I was diagnosed with septal perforation (hole in the nose). Many doctors we went to said that it was difficult and there were only a few people who did it, and Mustafa He directed me to my marine instructor. He took very good care of me and performed my surgery successfully. Thank you very much to him and his team. I'm glad to have you.
Dear Sir, First of all, I would like to thank you. At first we used it for 5-6 hours, then I used it for 1.2 hours, no problem, thank you.
I took my mother, who was treated for vertigo in various hospitals for almost two months but could not get any results. As a result of detailed examination and tests performed by audiologists, Mustafa determined that she had balance nerve inflammation. The treatment, which was expected to last 4 weeks, was completed in almost 2 weeks, accompanied by expert audiologists. His condition is very good, he returned to his normal life, thank you to everyone who contributed 🙏🏻
First of all, I would like to express my endless gratitude to my marine instructor and all his staff. After a long wandering, I found my marine instructor upon his recommendation. He solved my dizziness problem that disrupted the entire routine of my life. May God bless you. REGARDS.
My daughter had adenoid surgery at the age of 6. Thank God, she is very well now. We chose my doctor because we trusted his knowledge and experience and we were not wrong. I recommend him as a doctor.
Anesthesia Type: General
Operation Time: 2-3 Hours
Pain: Mild
Length of hospital stay: 1 night
Recovery Time 7 days
Fill in the Form
Let us call you
Take the First Step Now
Free Preliminary Consultation
Schedule your free initial consultation with Prof. Dr. Mustafa Deniz Yılmaz now. Take the first step in your treatment process and let’s start your journey to regain your health with personalized solutions.