Combined Access Closed Tympanomastoidectomy: Microsurgery Allied to Endoscopy

Chronic otitis media is a prevalent medical condition, leading to important impact in the lives of the individuals with this condition, and a great amount of patients may need surgical intervention. The main objectives of the surgery in these cases are to restore the anatomy of the middle ear, to improve hearing and to remove the infection to avoid further complications. Still, chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma presents high rates of recurrence and residual symptoms after surgery. The standard technique used for treatment of chronic otitis media is microsurgery. Nonetheless, with the development of new technologies that use endoscopy, it is now possible to use endoscopic surgery to improve the visualization of the cholesteatoma and ear structures by combining both techniques. This study will evaluate the efficacy of the combined access surgery technique, which is microsurgery combined with endoscopy, for closed tympanomastoidectomy in patients with cholesteatoma. Furthermore, the study aims to compare the results of the combined access technique and the standard technique by randomizing the patients in two groups: one group will receive tympanomastoidectomy by standard technique and the other group will receive combined technique.

Patients with cholesteatoma and medical indication of closed tympanomastoidectomy will be randomized into two groups. In the first group, microsurgical tympanomastoidectomy will be performed; while combined technique will be performed in the other group. The combined technique improves the visualization of the middle ear canal and the mastoid. Herewith, the best visualization of the surgical site facilitates the full removal of the cholesteatoma. In addition to that, the combined technique is less invasive than the standard one, since less bone debridement is required to access the surgical site. The outcomes of the study will be evaluated through follow up medical appointments and exams. The patients will be followed by monthly medical appointments with otoscopic evaluations for diagnose of possible recurrence of the disease or residual cholesteatoma. Also, audiometry exams will be performed in the third, sixth and twelfth months. Image exams such as nuclear magnetic resonance may be performed at the end of this period to evaluate relapse of the disease if the otoscopic evaluation is inconclusive.

In this group it will be performed the standard technique for closed tympanomastoidectomy, in which a surgical microscope is used.

In this group a closed tympanomastoidectomy with combined access will be performed. This technique combines the use of a surgical microscope with a rigid endoscope measuring 14cm of length with 0º and 30º angulation.

Trans canal surgery with the use of a surgical microscope with a rigid endoscope measuring 14cm of length with 0º and 30º angulation allowing better visualization and removal of the cholesteatoma before mastoid debridement. In this surgery, mastoid debridement is conducted only if there was no full endoscopic removal of the cholesteatoma. The other procedures of this type of surgery are similar to the standard tympanomastoidectomy technique.

Supine position and general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation Antisepsis and placing of sterile fields Local anesthesia of the external auditory canal with lidocaine 2% and adrenaline 1:100. 000 UI Retroauricular incision Removal of the temporal muscle fascia Elevation of the surgical flap of the tympanic meatus Visualization and exploration of the cholesteatoma Exploration of the ossicular chain Mastoid debridement Conservation of the upper posterior wall of the auditory conduct Removal of the cholesteatoma Tympanoplasty with the temporal fascia Retroauricular suture with vycril 3.0 and mononylon 4.0

Recurrence of cholesteatoma, which is defined as development of new disease in the same ear (not related with the previous cholesteatoma), will be evaluated through second look surgery or nuclear magnetic resonance.

Presence of residual cholesteatoma, which is defined as disease that was not fully removed in the first intervention, will be evaluated through second look surgery or nuclear magnetic resonance.

Hearing outcomes will be measured through audiometry exams (parameters that will be analyzed in the exam: Pure tone average (PTA) 500.000 Hz to 2.000 Hz and air bone gap) after three months after surgery and compared with the audiometry exam made before the surgery.

Hearing outcomes will be measured through audiometry exams (parameters that will be analyzed in the exam: PTA 500.000 Hz to 2.000 Hz and air bone gap) after six months after surgery and compared with the audiometry exam made before the surgery and the audiometry exam made three months after surgery.

Hearing outcomes will be measured through audiometry exams (parameters that will be analyzed in the exam: PTA 500.000 Hz to 2.000 Hz and air bone gap) after twelve months after surgery and compared with the audiometry exam made before the surgery and the audiometry exams made three and six months after surgery.

Compares the length of the closed tympanomastoidectomy with standard technique and the combined access tympanomastoidectomy.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with cholesteatoma with indication for closed tympanomastoidectomy. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with malformation of the temporal bone or previous surgery in the ear eligible for the study.

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