Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery to remove middle ear polyps in 62 cats and outcomes
By Janssens, Sara Ds et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2017·1 Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Middle ear polyps: results of traction avulsion after a lateral approach to the ear canal in 62 cats (2004-2014).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 62 cats, including many Domestic Shorthairs and Maine Coons, were treated for ear canal polyps after showing signs like ear scratching, head shaking, and discharge from the ear. The cats underwent a surgical procedure called traction avulsion to remove the polyps, which took about 33 to 48 minutes depending on the surgeon's experience. While some cats had minor complications like Horner's syndrome or facial nerve paralysis, the overall recurrence of polyps was low, especially with more experienced surgeons. Most cats did well after the surgery, making this approach a reliable option for treating ear polyps.
People also search for: cat ear polyp treatment · why is my cat shaking its head · cat ear discharge causes
Abstract
Objectives The objective of this study was to report the surgical outcome and complication rate of deep traction avulsion (TA) of feline aural inflammatory polyps after a lateral approach (LA) to the ear canal. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of data retrieved from an electronic database of 62 cats treated with TA after an LA (TALA) for removal of ear canal polyps. Long-term outcome was assessed via a telephone questionnaire survey with the owners. Results Domestic shorthair cats (48%) and Maine Coons (37%) were over-represented. The most common presenting clinical signs were otorrhoea, ear scratching and head shaking. Video-otoscopic examination confirmed a polypous mass in the ear canal in all patients. All 62 cats underwent TALA, with a mean surgical time of 33 mins for experienced surgeons (n = 4) and 48 mins (n = 12) for less experienced surgeons. The recurrence rate of polyp regrowth for experienced surgeons was 14.3% vs 35% for the less experienced surgeons. Postoperative complications included Horner's syndrome (11.5%) and facial nerve paralysis (3%). Otitis interna was not observed. Conclusions and relevance A lateral approach to the ear canal in combination with deep TA of an aural inflammatory polyp is an effective first-line technique that results in a low recurrence and complication rate.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27550205/