Mastoid subperiosteal abscess in children: drainage or mastoidectomy?

Objective: To evaluate the management of mastoid subperiosteal abscess using two different surgical approaches: simple mastoidectomy and abscess drainage.

Method: The medical records of 34 children suffering from acute mastoiditis with subperiosteal abscess were retrospectively reviewed. In these cases, the initial surgical approach consisted of either myringotomy plus simple mastoidectomy or myringotomy plus abscess drainage.

Algorithmic management of pediatric acute mastoiditis.

Objective: Today, no uniformly accepted diagnostic and therapeutic criteria have been established for the management of pediatric acute mastoiditis. The aim of this study is determine the efficacy and safety of an algorithmic approach for treating pediatric acute mastoiditis.

Methods: The medical records of all children (n=167) with a diagnosis of AM admitted in our center during the period 2002-2010 were retrospectively studied.