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Eng is a 61-year-old mother and farmer from Cambodia who needs $487 to fund ear surgery to relieve her of pain and infections.

Eng
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December 19, 2022

Eng is a 61-year-old farmer living in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. She and her husband have an adopted son who is 32 years old and now married. Their family grows rice just outside of the city limits. At home, she likes to grow vegetables for her family and to sell at the local market.

Six months ago, Eng had an ear infection. This infection caused the ear drum in her right ear to perforate. Now Eng experiences ear discharge, tinnitus, pain, fever, and headaches. Sometimes she can’t sleep well at night. She has been treating her symptoms with medicine from a pharmacy but it is still not better.

Eng visited our medical partner’s care center, Children’s Surgical Centre, hoping to receive treatment. On December 20th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

She said, “After surgery, I hope my ear stops having these infections and improves my hearing.”

Eng is a 61-year-old farmer living in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. She and her husband have an adopted son who is 32 years old ...

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Eng's Timeline

  • December 19, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Eng was submitted by Romanea Khun, Assistant Manager, CSC at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • December 20, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Eng was scheduled to receive treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • December 22, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Eng's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Eng is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Eng's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Funded by 1 donor

Funded by 1 donor

Treatment
Myringoplasty
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $487 for Eng's treatment
Hospital Fees
$61
Medical Staff
$375
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
Labs
$3
Radiology
$5
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A myringoplasty is the closure of the perforation of the tympanic membrane in the ear. This surgery is performed when a patient has a perforated eardrum, certain types of hearing loss, and chronic otitis media (middle ear infection). A bilateral myringoplasty will be performed when a patient has otitis media on both sides. Patients experience difficulty hearing and communicating, in addition to chronic infection and daily ear discharge.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The patient has difficulty hearing and experiences daily pain and ear discharge. These symptoms make it difficult to attend school or work regularly.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Many people in Cambodia are unaware that medical help is available for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions. In rural villages, if a young child has trouble hearing, it may be assumed that he or she is deaf. For this reason, that child may not attend school.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

A myringoplasty is the closure of the perforation of the tympanic membrane. The temporalis fascia is grafted. An incision is made along the edge of the perforation, and a ring of epithelium is removed. A strip of mucosal layer is removed from the inner side of the perforation. The middle ear is packed with gelfoam soaked with an antibiotic. The edges of the graft should extend under the margins of the perforation, and a small part should extend over the posterior canal wall. The tympanomeatal flap is then replaced.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This surgery will repair the perforated tympanic membrane, treat the infection, and stop the ear discharge. This operation has a high success rate of hearing improvement.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This surgery is highly effective with few risks.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Treatment for chronic ear infections is not widely available in Cambodia. There are only a handful of doctors in the country that will perform a myringoplasty, but their services are expensive. Children's Surgical Centre is the only affordable treatment option for patients coming in with chronic otitis media on one or both sides.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

The alternative to surgery is antibiotic ear drops, but they have a far lower success rate. Many people neglect their pain and discharge for years, until total loss of hearing becomes a reality.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.