[The mastoid surgery in children at the Doce de Octubre Hospital. Review of the years 1988-1991].

A study was made of 21 children with cholesteatoma and chronic otitis media between 1989 and 1991. We reviewed diagnostic tools, presurgical data, surgical procedures and results. Certain aspects of special relevance such as congenital anomalies and presurgical complications, are emphasized. The procedure of choice was mastoid tympanoplasty with the canal wall down, which is preferred in children. Hearing results were poor, partially caused by the process of bone resorption and by the surgical technique used. The incidence of persistent disease and recurrent cholesteatoma was high but we achieved a good control of the disease development because the canal wall down procedure allowed visualization and cleaning of the mastoid cavity.