Radical revision mastoidectomy for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma: the relevance of excenteration of all rest cells.

Patients who, despite treatment, suffer persistent chronic otitis media (COM), a radical cavity and a hearing loss of more than 55 decibels for more than five years, can be classified as having an 'endstage' COM. It is generally agreed that retained infected residual cell tracts or a too small meatus are common causes for failure of surgery for COM. Radical revision mastoidectomy (RRM) aims to remove all residual cell tracts in the mastoid, in the middle-ear cleft, around the labyrinth and around the Eustachian tube. The mastoid cavity is obliterated with a pedicled muscle flap. Thus the mastoid cavity is reduced and self-cleansing is improved. The first 16 consecutive patients who underwent a RRM for 'endstage' COM were included in this study. In about 80 per cent the treatment resulted in a dry ear. We, therefore, conclude that RRM is an effective and safe method for treating 'endstage' COM.