Ear
Visualisation with a 2.9mm endoscope can give a very comprehensive view of the ear canal and the ear drum. This can easily be achieved in both adults and children and achieve an accurate diagnosis.
The use of high-powered Carl Zeiss operative video-microscope gives the best visualization of the ear canal and the ear drum
Apart from examining the ear canal and the eardrum, the microscope can also help removing any ear wax, foreign body or infective material like pus
Children may put foreign bodies (commonly seen are beads, food debris, eraser, …) into the ear canals. Rarely insects may crawl or fly into the ear canal. It is important to remove any organic materials early as they may expand over time if left in the ear canal leading to pain & infection.
Otitis media with effusion is a common ENT disease.If medical treatment is tried and failed, surgical drainage is indicated. A small incision (hole) can be made with a micro-instrument and fluid can be drained by suction
In case of certain middle ear illness, injection through the eardrum has to be performed. In such situation, the microscope is used to aid the whole process. Especially for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, or uncontrolled Meniere's Disease.
Grommet is a small ventilation tube which is inserted through the small artificial opening on the eardrum. The tube will fall off in 6 to 18 months
Who needs the operation?
Those who have middle ear infection with effusion
Why have the operation?
The aim is to equalize the pressure on both sides of the eardrum so as to improve hearing. In case of acute middle ear infection, insertion of the small tube can help to drain the pus out.
Surgical risk and possible complications:
Common risk: recurrence, infection, bleeding, residual perforation of eardrum (around 1%)Less common risk: hearing loss, vertigo, facial nerve paralysis, dislodgement of ventilation tube into middle ear, implantation cholesteatoma
Eardrum repair through surgical means, a graft from the muscle near the ear is taken which is then used to repair the hole on eardrum
Surgical Risk and Complications
More common risk (around 1%): allergic reaction to ear packing, infection, ear bleeding, loss of taste sensationLess common risk (<1%): hearing impairment, dizziness
What would happen if NO eardrum repair operation?
Recurrent infections with ear discharge, sometimes it may come with further hearing impairment due to damage to the inner ear structures
Mastoidectomy is an operation to remove disease in the middle ear cavity, mastoid antrum and mastoid air cells. (The bony structure behind the ear)
Who needs the operation?
People who have Cholesteatoma, acute mastoiditis, some cases of chronic suppurative otitis media need the surgery.
Surgical risk and possible complications:
Commoner risk: recurrence and residual disease, infection, bleeding, worsening of conductive hearing loss, taste loss or disturbance, allergic reaction to packing, dizzinessLess common risk (<1%): facial nerve injury, partial to total sensorineural hearing loss, ear canal stenosis, pinna deformity due to infection of pinna, intracranial injury
What would happen if NO operation?
Persistent infection, intracranial complications such as meningitis (inflammation of the brain membrane) and intracranial abscess ( pus in the brain area) facial nerve paralysis, infection of inner ear will result.
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