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Success! Vy from Cambodia raised $809 to treat chronic ear infections.

Vy
100%
  • $809 raised, $0 to go
$809
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Vy's treatment was fully funded on June 1, 2016.

Photo of Vy post-operation

July 1, 2016

Vy received successful treatment for her ear infections.

Vy’s mastoidectomy went well. She will have her sutures removed in 1 week and an audiogram in 6 weeks. She feels mild pain on the wound but is happy with the result of her surgery.

Vy’s brother, who accompanied her to the clinic for care, is equally happy that his sister is healing. When she is better, she will return to school.

Vy's mastoidectomy went well. She will have her sutures removed in 1 week and an audiogram in 6 weeks. She feels mild pain on the wound but ...

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May 9, 2016

“Sometimes I can’t study because the pain is so bad,” shares 23-year-old Vy, a young woman from Cambodia.

Vy is a university student who is studying marketing in Cambodia with the help of a local NGO. She has one older sister and three older brothers.

For the past two years, Vy has experienced hearing loss in her left ear. She has recently experienced discharge and bleeding from that ear. Vy and her brother traveled one hour to reach our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for care.

Doctors at CSC discovered a cholesteatoma in her left ear. A cholestoeatoma is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the ear drum.

Surgeons at CSC will perform a mastoidectomy surgery to remove the cholesteatoma and stop the ear discharge and infection from spreading. The operation and post-operative care will cost $809.

“I hope my ear discharge stops and my hearing improves,” continues Vy. “Once I am healed I hope to return home and get a good job.”

"Sometimes I can't study because the pain is so bad," shares 23-year-old Vy, a young woman from Cambodia. Vy is a university student who ...

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Vy's Timeline

  • May 9, 2016
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Vy was submitted by Hannah Callas, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • May 10, 2016
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Vy received 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.

  • May 25, 2016
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Vy's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • June 1, 2016
    FULLY FUNDED

    Vy's treatment was fully funded.

  • July 1, 2016
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Vy's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Treatment
Mastoidectomy
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. A patient who needs a mastoidectomy will experience hearing loss, chronic ear infections, and possibly cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear. Cholesteatomas cause hearing loss and ear discharge. The cholesteatoma will erode bones in the middle ear and can eventually expose the brain and cause death in complicated, untreated cases.

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

Patients live with hearing loss and chronic ear infections.

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

Treated incorrectly or left untreated, an infected mastoid bone can cause hearing loss, persistent ear discharge, meningitis, temporary dizziness, and temporary loss of taste. Due to poor hygiene and limited education in rural Cambodia, patients are likely to experience complications and receive the incorrect treatment.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A mastoidectomy is performed with the patient asleep under general anesthesia. Surgeons will perform one of several different types of mastoidectomy, depending on the amount of infection present. These include: • Simple (or closed) mastoidectomy: The operation is performed through the ear or through an incision behind the ear. The surgeon opens the mastoid bone and removes the infected air cells. The eardrum is incised to drain the middle ear. Topical antibiotics are placed in the ear. • Radical mastoidectomy: This procedure removes the most bone and is usually performed for extensive spread of a cholesteatoma. The eardrum and middle ear structures may be completely removed. Usually the stapes, the "stirrup"-shaped bone, is spared to preserve some hearing. • Modified radical mastoidectomy: In this procedure, some middle ear bones are left in place, and the eardrum is rebuilt by tympanoplasty. After surgery, the wound is stitched up around a drainage tube, and a dressing is applied.

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

This treatment will relieve chronic ear infections, hearing loss, and other symptoms caused by the infected mastoid bone.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This treatment is highly effective, but it poses risks if performed by an inexperienced surgeon. The operation is near the facial nerve and the brain, so surgeons must be careful when operating. At Children's Surgical Centre, ENT surgeons only operate on cases about which they feel confident.

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

Care for this condition is not easily accessible in Phnom Penh. Only one other hospital performs ENT surgery, but care at that hospital is expensive. The ENT surgeons at our medical partner have a proven record of successful cases.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Once the infection stops responding to antibiotics, surgery is the only option.

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.