Learning Objectives: TBC

The main goal of cholesteatoma surgery is complete removal of the disease. The secondary goal is to preserve or restore hearing, mostly by ossicular reconstruction. There is no consensus on the best technique and timing (immediate or sequential) for the reconstruction.

The presentation will focus on the factors which influence the decision making: age, extent and location of the cholesteatoma (and need for a second look); status of the ossicular chain and especially the presence or absence of the superstructures of the stapes; inflammatory status of the middle ear during surgery (dry or an active purulent ear); the status of the contralateral ear and others.

According to the literature and the experience of our department we will propose recommendations which may aid in the decision for immediate or staged reconstruction and discuss the different possible technics.