Citations(0)

Content

How to Cite This Article

Download Download [ PDF ]

Email Send to a friend

Page Views Page Views(1913)

Facebook ShareFacebook Share

Twitter ShareTwitter Share

Year : 2019 Month : January Volume : 8 Issue : 3 Page : 163-169

EXCLUSIVE ENDOSCOPIC CHOLESTEATOMA SURGERY.

Dhakeswar Singh Potsangbam1

1Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, J. N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat, Imphal, Manipur, India.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Dhakeswar Singh Potsangbam,
Email : potsangbamdhakeswarsingh@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Corresponding Author:
Dhakeswar Singh Potsangbam,
Singjamei Chingamakha, Heirangoithong Bazar,
Imphal-795001, Manipur, India.
E-mail: potsangbamdhakeswarsingh@gmail.com
         dhake7@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Microscopic ear surgery had been the mainstay of the cholesteatoma surgery. Canal wall up (CWU) surgeries were employed to allow water activities after surgery. Canal wall down (CWD) surgeries were employed to avoid second look surgery to avoid recurrences. Hidden areas like sinus tympani, facial recess were frequent areas of recurrences and combined approach by posterior tympanotomy through mastoid was improvised to address the residual cholesteatoma in hidden areas. But the recurrence rate of cholesteatoma remained high. Endoscopes were introduced in the 1990s. Endoscopes increased accessibility and the endoscope assisted cholesteatoma surgery improved the results and reduced recurrence rate of cholesteatoma. But surgery of cholesteatoma by endoscope remained confined to attic, aditus and small mastoid antrum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The current study is a retrospective descriptive study of 243 cases of exclusive endoscopic surgery of cholesteatoma disease, performed by the same surgeon in a span of 8 years in a medical college. The aim of the study was to define the exclusive endoscopic cholesteatoma surgery. The classification and grading of cholesteatoma was done as per Daniele Marchioni and Livio Presutti and the staging system of Telmesani et al modified by Daniele Marchioni and Livio Presutti. The cases comprised of cholesteatoma disease confined to attic, middle ear and mastoid. Cases were operated exclusively with Endoscopy.

RESULTS

All cases were operated exclusively with endoscopic trans-canal approach only in 191 cases and with extension by endoscopic endaural technique in 52 cases. All were done under local anaesthesia with sedation. Age group of cases was from 8-65 years (median age was 20 years). There were 182 males and 61 females. Follow up of cases were done from 12 months to 7 and half years. There were no cases of recurrence. Cavity problems were minimal.

CONCLUSION

Endoscope can be used as a stand-alone means of cholesteatoma surgery with improved results.

KEY WORDS

Cholesteatoma Surgery, Endoscopic, Exclusive.

BACKGROUND

Microscope had been the mainstay of cholesteatoma surgery since the middle of the twentieth century. Since the early part of the nineties endoscopic surgery for middle ear and attic cholesteatoma had been started by few surgeons with good results. In spite of great resistance from the microscopic surgeons, the use of endoscope has been accepted by many as an adjunct to microscopic surgery for cholesteatoma at the present state. Cholesteatoma is a disease originating in the attic and the posterior quadrant of the pars tensa tympanic membrane. The advancement in equipment and techniques of diagnosis of ear diseases has allowed early diagnosis of the cholesteatoma disease in the last few decades. Thus, the incidence of complications arising out of cholesteatoma diseases is rapidly decreasing. The early cholesteatoma diseases are best treated by starting the tacking of the disease from the area of origin.

This helps in reducing post-operative complications of large mastoidectomy cavities with consequent problems like frequent infections, inability to enter water sports, swimming and diving. Microscopic inside out mastoidectomy starting from atticotomy is an improvement in microscopic cholesteatoma surgery. But the advantages of endoscope are increased visualization of corners, mobility of the endoscope tip in the operating field and 3600 visualization of the operative field. This study has been done to observe the endoscopic surgery in treatment of cholesteatoma in avoiding complications and exposure of large and extensive cholesteatoma using only endoscopes.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was Retrospective descriptive study of endoscopic cholesteatoma surgeries done in 243 ears in a duration of eight years from 2009 to 2017. The following are the criteria of case selection-

 

Staging of Cholesteatoma

Our study used staging of the attic cholesteatoma as per Daniele Marchioni and Livio Presutti.[1]

 

Inclusion Criteria

The sites of cholesteatoma involving all of the given below: -

Site: (a) Lateral attic (with anterior epitympanum) and (b) Medial attic. ● Subsites: (a) Mesotympanum, (b) Protympanum, (c) Hypotympanum, (d) Retrotympanum, (e) Antrum and (f) Mastoid. ● I Extension○ C1: cholesteatoma with limited attic extension, – C1a: cholesteatoma involving only the lateral attic, – C1b: cholesteatoma involving also the medial attic. ○ C2: cholesteatoma with extension in one or more subsites, -C2a: posterior extension to the antrum and mastoid, – C2b: inferior extension to the mesotympanic, protympanic and hypotympanic regions- C2c: both posterior and inferior extension. ○ C3: cholesteatoma involving the retrotympanic space (Sinus tympani/subtympanic sinus; subpyramidal space) and/or with facial nerve involvement.

For Mesotympanic and Acquired Cholesteatoma, the cases were selected from the staging system of Telmesani et al modified by Daniele Marchioni and Livio Presutti as given below-

  • T = Tympanic cavity (Mesotympanic spaces), ○ T1 = mesotympanum involvement without hidden recess involvement (Hypotympanum, retrotympanum, protympanum), ○ T2 =mesotympanic cholesteatoma with one hidden recess involvement (Hypotympanum, retrotympanum, protympanum) and ○ T3 = 2 or more hidden recess involvements
  • A = Attic: ○ A0 = no attic involvement, ○ A1 = lateral attic involvement, ○ A2 = medial attic involvement and ○ A3 = entire attic involvement
  • M= Mastoid: ○ M0= no mastoid involvement, ○ M1= antrum cholesteatoma, ○ M2= cholesteatoma extending beyond the antrum and ○ M3= cholesteatoma affects the whole mastoid cavity.

 

Exclusion Criteria

Cases involving the petrous apex, inner ear and intracranial complications are excluded from the study. Cases allergic to lignocaine, suffering from hyperglycaemia, hypertension, pathological problems of kidney, liver and heart; suffering from hepatitis B and C, HIV infection etc. are also excluded from the study. This was Retrospective descriptive study of exclusive endoscopic cholesteatoma removal in 8 years duration from 2009 to 2017.

 

Principle of Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery

For proper surgery of the middle ear cholesteatoma, the classification of the compartments of the middle ear is done as-

  1. Epitympanum- a. Anterior, b. Posterior, c. Prussak’s Space.
  2. Mesotympanum.
  3. Protympanum.
  4. Retrotympanum.

 

 

 

Ventilation of Various Compartments of the Middle Ear Cleft Are Affected in This Manner:

  1. Epitympanum-
  2. Anterior compartment from isthmus or through Tensor Tympani Fold if incomplete,
  3. Posterior compartment from Isthmus,
  4. Prussak’s Space from Eustachian tube (ET) lateral to posterior malleolar ligament.
    1. Mesotympanum from ET
    2. Protympanum from ET
    3. Retrotympanum from ET.

 

The failure of ventilation of the various compartments is the cause of retraction pocket formation and subsequent development of cholesteatoma. Therefore, it is imperative to look for adequacy of ventilation pathways at the end of cholesteatoma surgery of middle ear and attic.

 

 

 

The Principles of Cholesteatoma Surgery Are, To Aim For:

  1. Eradication of cholesteatoma
  2. Adequacy of ventilation pathways of various middle ear, attic and mastoid compartments
  3. Reconstruction of hearing mechanism
  4. Avoiding cavity problems.

 

Under endoscopic vision, structures of the middle ear became clear and exposure became easy for difficult areas: (1). Sinus Tympani: variation of shape and depth: types A, B and C; (2). Variations in structures of (a). Ponticulus, (b). Subiculum, (c). Finiculus, (d). Pyramidal eminence, (e). Subpyramidal space, (f). Sinus Subtympanicus, (g). Supratubal Recess.

 

 

 

Special endoscopic ear surgery instruments and specially made curved instruments with suction attachments and angled drill handpiece with self-irrigation (by Smith & Nephew co.(R) ) are useful for ease of exposure and dissection. 3 mm 11-15 cm 00, 300, 450 endoscopes are especially useful for the negotiation in the isthmus, sinus tympani, subpyramidal space, sinus subtympanicus, mastoid tip, retrofacial cells etc.

 

Operation Procedure

All surgeries were done in local anaesthesia. Premedication was given with injection ondansetron (Adults: 4-8 mg. and children: 4 mg. slow intravenous), promethazine (Adults: 25 mg and children 6.25 – 12.5 mg. slow intravenous), glycopyrrolate (4 mcgm/Kg slow intravenous) and tramadol (Adults: 50-100 mg and children: 25-50 mg intramuscular) about 30-60 minutes before surgery. Local anaesthesia was given in the form of 2% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:30, 000) for local infiltration and 4% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:10, 000) for surface anaesthesia and blood haemostasis.

After the patient was kept in the supine position with a soft pillow under the head, the face was turned away from the surgeon. After proper antiseptic dressing, a plastic adhesive draping with a hole for the pinna was used to cover the operating area along with large cotton cut-out sheets covering the remaining part of the whole body. Under endoscopic guidance 0.4 ml of 2% lignocaine adrenaline infiltration was done at 12, 3, 6 and 9 O’clock positions in the osteo-cartilaginous junction of the external canal. Further infiltrations were given in the incisura terminalis, around upper end of pinna and all around the mastoid along post-auricular sulcus about 0.5 ml for every 1 cm distance.

 

Usual incision was from 7 to 3 O’clock position clockwise on the right ear and 4 to 9 O’clock position anticlockwise on the left ear at the osteo-cartilaginous junction or hairline (About 1.5 to 2 cm lateral to annulus) of the external canal. The incision was deepened to the bone and elevated medially and inferiorly up to the fibrous annulus of the tympanic membrane and the tympanic membrane was reflected inferiorly up to the umbo. This exposes the attic, protympanum, retrotympanum and some part of mesotympanum revealing the ossicular chain. Retraction pockets and C1a cholesteatoma were easily removed here. This exposure were also enough for C1a (Lateral epitympanum and Prussak’s space lesions), C2b (Mesotympanum, Protympanum, sinus tympani and Hypotympanum cholesteatomas), C2c (Posterior and inferior extensions) lesions and C3 cholesteatoma involving retrotympanic space (Sinus tympani/subtympanic sinus; subpyramidal space) and or with facial nerve involvement.

 

Removal of head of Malleus and body of Incus or Incus completely with dislocation of Incudo-stapedial joint and removal of scutum was done for C1b cholesteatoma (medial attic).

A radial incision starting at 1 O’clock on right ear and 11 O’clock on left ear drawn laterally towards incisura terminalis and soft tissues retracted after adequate mastoid bone exposure: Endaural extension was used for C2a (Posterior extension to the antrum and mastoid) lesions. But if the mastoid is sclerotic, this endaural exposure was not needed.

A set of variable sized sturdy and sharp bone curettes of little curvature in the end was effectively employed to expose small antrum, aditus and attic. Only in very pneumatised mastoid with wide extension up to the mastoid tip, extension of incision by endaural approach and drilling under endoscopy was needed. Dry drilling was enough to expose the whole of extensive mastoid.

Statistical Analysis

Collected data was entered into MS-Excel and data cleansing was performed. Data was then transferred into IBM SPSS ver-22.0 software and analysed. Descriptive statistics like Mean, Median, Standard deviation and percentage were used. Analytical Statistics like Chi square by using Yates’ correction formula and ANOVA F-test was applied. P-value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

RESULTS

This was Retrospective descriptive study of exclusive endoscopic cholesteatoma removal, all done by the author in JNIMS, Imphal in 8 years duration from 2009 to 2017 in 243 ears. Attic cholesteatoma cases encountered were from stages C1a to C3 only. Cases of involvement of labyrinth, petrous temporal bone and intracranial compartments were not encountered. Cases were operated exclusively with Endoscopic Trans-canal only in 78.6%% (191) cases and with Extension by endaural inside-out technique in 21.4% (52) cases. All were done under local anaesthesia with sedation. Age group of cases were from 8-65 years (median age was 30 years). There were 74.9% (182) males and 25.1% (61) females. All cases under 20 years 41.6% (101 cases) were operated in two stages at six months interval. Age and sex distribution were significant at the 5% C.I. Table 2 shows the distribution of cases were 9.9% (24 cases) of C1a, 20.2% (49 cases) of C1b, 60% (146) of C2a, 7% (17 cases) of C2b, 1.6% (4 cases) of C2c and 1.2% (3 cases) of C3: 3. -value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

 

Age-wise

Sex

Total

Male (%)

Female (%)

 

79 (78.2)

22 (21.8)

101

20-40

44 (63.8))

25 (36.2)

69

40-60

44 (75.9)

14 (24.1)

58

60

15 (100)

0 (0.0)

15

Total

182 (74.9)

61 (25.1)

243

Table 1. Age and Sex Distribution

χ² = 10.194 with 3d.f; P-Value =0.017< 0.05,

 

 

Stage of Cholesteatoma

No. of Cases

Percentage

C1a

24

09.9%

C1b

49

20.2%

C2a

146

60.1%

C2b

17

07.0%

C2c

4

01.6%

C3

3

01.2%

Total

243

100

Table 2. Distribution of Diagnosis and Stages

 

Stages

No. of Cases

PTA air conduction

(Mean ± SD)

Min

Max

F-Value

P-Value

C1a

24

25.27 ± 5.76

15.0

36.6

48.840

0.000

C1b

49

43.42 ± 5.18

23.3

50.0

C2a

146

50.48 ± 8.37

25.0

90.0

C2b

17

47.54 ± 7.29

40.0

65.0

C2c

4

64.57± 20.69

40.0

90.0

C3

3

52.21 ± 10.57

40.0

58.0

Total

243

46.61 ± 11.05

15

90

 

 

Table 3. Mean Distribution of PTA Air Conduction (AC) in Different Stages (Before Surgery).

 

Table 3 shows that mean PTA air conduction in the C1a stage was 25.27 ± 5.76 while the mean PTA air condition in the C2C stages was 64.57 ± 20.69. PTA air conduction in the different stages was significant. Table 4 also shows that mean PTA bone condition in the C1a stage was 25.27 ± 5.76 while the mean PTA air condition in the C2C stages was 11.17 ± 8.48. PTA bone conduction in the different stages was significant.

 

Stages

No. of Cases

PTA bone Conduction

(Mean ± SD)

Min

Max

F-Value

P-Value

C1a

24

6.87 ± 3.85

1.66

13.33

7.38

0.000

C1b

49

6.29 ± 3.47

1.66

15.0

C2a

146

11.17 ± 8.48

1.66

50.0

C2b

17

9.40 ± 7.04

1.66

28.33

C2c

4

25.63 ± 21.46

3.33

50.0

C3

3

7.22 ± 4.81

1.66

10.0

Total

243

9.83 ± 8.05

1.66

50

 

 

Table 4. Mean Distribution of PTA Bone Conduction (BC) in Different Stages (Before Surgery).

 

Ossicular Configuration

No. of Cases

Percentages

HMBI-

11

4.5%

I-

1

0.4%

LI-

1

0.4%

M+I+S

27

11.1%

M+S

11

4.5%

M+SF

2

0.8%

PM+S

2

0.8%

S

129

53.1%

SF

59

24.3%

Total

243

100

Table 5. Distribution of Ossicular Configuration in Various Stages of Cholesteatoma

 

Legend for ossicular configuration designated in the table 5 can be expanded as: HMBI- = Absent head of the malleus and body of incus by erosion. I- = Incus absent. LI- = Lenticular process of incus absent. M+I+S = Malleus, incus and stapes all intact. M+S = Only Malleus and stapes present. M+SF = Malleus and stapes footplate present, but, stapes superstructure eroded. PM+S = Partial malleus and whole stapes present. S = Only whole of stapes present. SF = Only stapes footplate present.

Complications most prevalent were pain around the ear complained by some patients. Next in incidence were cavity problems of discharge and debris collection needing cleaning minimum once in 6 months in about 12 cases. Reason of most cases with complication occurring in early part of the study may be due to learning curve or leaving of mucosa or bony overhang. Most got cured in later minor revision surgeries. Temporary facial nerve weaknesses seen in 3 cases, fully recovered later. In later cases, employment of soft canal wall reconstruction by tragal or conchal cartilage and obliteration of the large mastoid cavities by temporalis muscle, cartilage or bone lead to reduction of cavity problems. The follow up duration ranged from 12 months to 7 years and 9 months. There was no recurrence of the cholesteatoma during the whole duration of follow up.

DISCUSSION

Traditional cholesteatoma surgery employed microscopic surgery till the late 1990’s when endoscope came into the picture. Canal wall up (CWU) and canal wall down (CWD) surgeries were usually employed to achieve cholesteatoma eradication. Endoscopy has been accepted as an adjunct to cholesteatoma surgery. Visualization of entire middle ear space was difficult under microscopy and field of vision was limited by the narrowest segment. Hidden areas like sinus tympani, facial recess, anterior epitympanum, attic, hypotympanum and protympanum was the common areas of leaving residual cholesteatoma. Employment of endoscope had improved the field of vision by giving a panoramic view, passing through the narrowest segments and showing the hidden areas.[2] Employment of endoscope as an adjunct to cholesteatoma surgery had reduced the incidences of residual cholesteatoma in CWU surgery (Up to 47%) and CWD (Above 10%) to less than 6%.[3,4,5,6,7] The occurrence of residual cholesteatoma were due to insufficient primary resection because of (1) very thin epidermal matrix or middle ear inflammation and (2) limited exposure of hidden areas, limited by the narrowest segment in surgery under microscope. This had prompted combined approach tympanoplasty through mastoid and posterior tympanotomy. Persistence of physio-pathologic phenomena that determined cholesteatoma development should be avoided to avoid recurrence of the disease by avoiding tympanic membrane retractions.[1] Ventilation of different compartments of the middle ear cleft and adequate reconstruction of scutum should be achieved at the end of cholesteatoma surgery. Exclusive endoscopic cholesteatoma surgeries have not been practised unless in limited attic and middle ear cholesteatomas.[8,9,10] In our study, trans canal curetting of bone was employed in small mastoid antrum with effective exposure and drilling of bone after endaural extension in some cases with very pneumatised mastoids. In this study series, it was possible to eradicate all cases of cholesteatomas presented to the surgeon in a span of eight years, by pure endoscopic approach without any need for microscope usage. Longest follow up time was 8 years and shortest was 12 months. There were no cases of recurrence of cholesteatoma. Our study was aimed at establishing the point that only endoscope can effectively treat cholesteatoma disease of the ears. The routine examination of the ear by endoscopy has increased chances of early diagnosis and treatment leading to avoidance of very complicated and advanced spread of the disease in the petrous apex and labyrinth. In our study, we didn’t come across this advanced spread of the disease, and, this may be the reason why we could employ endoscopic approach effectively.

CONCLUSION

Routine examination of the ear by endoscopy has enabled early diagnosis of cholesteatoma disease of the ear. Excellent visualization of the hidden areas of the middle ear has greatly removed recurrence of cholesteatoma from the middle ear cavity. Transcanal endoscopic approach reduces the size of post-operative open cavity of mastoid leading to avoidance of cavity problems. Soft tissue reconstruction after mastoidectomy could be done endoscopically and reduced cavity problems. Endaural extension of the incision allowed endoscopic surgery to reach the far corners of a well pneumatised mastoid and thus cholesteatoma surgery can be performed exclusively with endoscopy alone.

 

Videos :

watch?v