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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.

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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:

  1. Destructive Growth: As cholesteatoma grows, it can damage the structures in the middle ear, leading to hearing loss, dizziness, and facial nerve damage.
  2. Inflammation and Infection: Cholesteatoma can cause recurrent ear infections. If these infections are not controlled, they may lead to serious complications such as meningitis.
  3. 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.
  4. Facial Nerve Paralysis: Cholesteatoma growth can compress the facial nerve, causing facial paralysis, which can be prevented or treated with surgery.
  5. 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.

Yes, cholesteatoma can recur, so regular follow-up is essential.

Yes, it is generally performed under general anesthesia.

There may be pain after surgery, but it is usually manageable with medication.

Untreated cholesteatoma can lead to serious complications, such as hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, or brain infections.

Most patients may need to stay overnight in the hospital.

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Mehmet Ali Emirdar
5.0
5 February 2025

I am Ferah Emirdar, one side of my nostril was closed, I could hardly breathe, I was acting aggressively, the sinusitis I had been suffering from for years was a separate problem. When I went for the examination, I made my decision, I had the surgery, it was very successful and not what I feared. The first thing I said after removing the tampon was, "Are you breathing like this?" I became a calm person, my sleep improved, I fell asleep immediately, I had no nerves left because I slept well, and my sinusitis and nasal congestion were gone. I would like to thank your patience and team during this process. I am also happy to have met you.

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sümeyra gültekin
5.0
5 February 2025

I went to Mustafa Hodja with the recommendation of a friend, and after my examination, I had 2 parotid tumor surgeries, one month apart. Both surgeries were successful. I felt at ease each time with the explanations Mustafa Deniz Hodja made both before and after the surgery. Thanks to Mustafa Hodja's self-confidence and the intense interest of his assistants, I went through the surgery very comfortably. Thank you Mustafa Hodja and his friendly team.

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Bedirhan Çelik
5.0
31 January 2025

I have been suffering from vertigo dizziness for 9 years. I was at a point where I could not do work at home. There was no doctor left that I did not go to. Finally, I went to my doctor, Mustafa Deniz. We started my treatment and I was very pleased with his care and attention. Now I am very well. I have been suffering from this dizziness for years. God bless you. I feel like I was born again. I am glad to have you, my teacher. I recognized

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Ömer Kahraman
5.0
21 January 2025

I am 34 years old. I have been having problems with infection and hearing loss due to ruptured eardrum since the age of 10. I wanted to have surgery and I went to many doctors. None of them were positive about me having surgery. They said my ears would not be healed with surgery. They recommended hearing aids. Upon the advice of a friend, I met Mustafa. He performed a very successful surgery. My hearing was cured. I got rid of the infection. Thank you very much for everything.

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Gulfidan Cansu
5.0
10 January 2025

I am very happy with my teacher. He is a doctor who is very experienced in his job. His team is also knowledgeable. I think you should choose Mustafa without hesitation. I don't know any other doctor. I recommend him to everyone. He is a doctor who works hard, listens to his patient, and understands what he wants.

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Sude ÇETİNKAYA
5.0
6 January 2025

My quality of life has officially increased, I can breathe much easier. I would like to thank my teacher and his team very much.

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Özlem YILMAZ
5.0
4 January 2025

We met with Mr. Mustafa Deniz for my son's adenoid surgery. He made me feel very comfortable with his interest and explanations. Our doctor is really a very sincere person. Our surgery was very successful, thank God. I had surgery a few months ago. I had a cyst in my throat. He explained my surgery process and my situation to me with the same interest and concern. My surgery went very well, thank God. Mr. Mustafa Deniz is successful in his job, valuable and a good person. The people who work with them are very valuable and good people. I'm glad I met you :)

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Samet Şahin
5.0
4 January 2025

I had nose surgery. I am in my 4th month. I am very satisfied. Thank you to my teacher Deniz.

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şükrü erkara
5.0
10 December 2024

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

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Nur ÜRPER
5.0
6 December 2024

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.

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cigdem topcuoglu
5.0
12 November 2024

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❤️

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Sümeyye ÖZKAN
5.0
12 November 2024

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.

Anesthesia Type: General

Operation Time: 2-3 Hours

Pain: Mild

Length of hospital stay: 1 night

Recovery Time 7 days

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