Chemically Assisted Dissection With Sodium 2-Mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA) in the Surgical Management of Pediatric Cholesteatoma.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the chemically assisted dissection with sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA), in the reduction of residual and recurrent cholesteatoma after mastoidectomy in children with chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media (CCOM).
Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.
Setting: Tertiary referral center.
Population: One hundred forty mastoidectomies performed in patients under 18 years of age for the treatment of CCOM.
Interventions: Chemically assisted dissection (CAD) with MESNA compared with surgical dissection without MESNA.
Main Outcome Measures: Recidivism of cholesteatoma (recurrence and residual disease), variations in the average of bone conduction threshold after treatment, and complications.
Results: Recidivism of cholesteatoma was significantly lower when CAD with MESNA was used (p < 0.0001). No difference was found in the mean variation of the average of bone conduction thresholds between the groups, confirming its safety profile regarding auditory function. Meatoplasty stenosis after surgery was more prevalent within CAD with MESNA group (p: 0.049).
Conclusion: Recurrent and residual cholesteatoma remains a problem, especially in children and despite surgical techniques such as canal wall down mastoidectomy and endoscopic ear surgery. CAD with MESNA can be safe and effective to reduce recurrence rates. Multicenter and prospective studies with larger number of patients are needed to validate these findings. The higher rate of meatoplasty stenosis after CAD with MESNA merits additional clinical research to confirm these findings, as well as in vitro studies evaluating the effect of the drug on the activity of fibroblasts and other growth factors that may be involved.