Publication:

Subtotal petrosectomy: a comprehensive review

Subtotal petrosectomy (STP) is usually recommended for extensive pathology confined primarily to middle ear and mastoid, particularly for treatment of a large post-surgical cavity.  It has been associated with middle ear procedure with blind sac closure of the external auditory canal. The Eustachian tube is obliterated in STP. The cavity is obliterated with autologous abdominal fat soaked in antibiotic ear drops. The extended skull base procedures are also sometimes referred to as STP. Because STP offers the potential for a permanent recovery with radical temporal bone clearing, it makes it possible to treat a wide range of diseases. Additionally, STP has a very low risk of complications when used in conjunction with other surgical procedures. STP has gained popularity during the last few decades, and its indications have expanded as well. When treating a complex case of tympanomastoid cholesteatoma, STP is a very safe and effective surgical treatment since it offers radical clearance, which may result in a permanent cure. STP can also be safely combined with hearing implantation procedure. During cochlear implantation, STP has been demonstrated to be useful for making a sterile, closed-off environment in the middle ear and for providing great visualization.