ACUTE MASTOIDITIS - A 10-YEAR REVIEW

Purpose: To study how antibiotic treatment and an early decision to as pirate subperiosteal abscesses can reduce hospitalization periods and costs in patients with acute mastoiditis. Patients and Methods: During a 10-year period, 134 patients were diagnosed with acute mastoiditis at the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery ( Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel). The diagnoses was based on ph ysical findings of retroauricular swelling and erythema and tenderness , with protrusion of the auricle forward and downward. The majority of patients (77) reached medical treatment during the first 3 days of th eir disease. Wide myringotomy and intravenous antibiotic treatment, as piration, and complete cortical mastoidectomy were the treatment optio ns. Results: With the administration of wide myringotomy and intraveno us antibiotic treatment, 115 patients recovered; nine received aspirat ion and did not need surgery; and only 15 patients who received the an tibiotic treatment needed a complete cortical mastoidectomy. Conclusio n: With the wise use of antibiotics and early decision to aspirate sub periosteal abscesses, the hospitalization period, the cost, and the ne ed for surgery can be reduced. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Com pany.