Watsi

Success! Saroeun from Cambodia raised $842 to fund ear surgery.

100%

$842 raised, $0 to go

$842

raised

to go

Fully funded

Saroeun's treatment was fully funded on March 20, 2020.

Saroeun's story
Saroeun's update

Photo of Saroeun post-operation

December 3, 2019

Saroeun underwent ear surgery.

Saroeun’s operation went well. Surgery will improve her quality of life by eliminating ear discharge and discomfort. Surgery is also important to ensure she does not suffer from hearing loss. She is looking forward to returning to her children and family in the village.

“I am so happy that my wife’s operation went well and that it cleared her ear infection.” said Saroeun’s husband.

Saroeun's operation went well. Surgery will improve her quality of life by eliminating ear discharge and discomfort. Surgery is also importa...

November 18, 2019

Saroeun is a 31-year old corn bread baker from Cambodia. In her free time, she enjoys looking after her two daughters and cooking for her family.

When she was 12 years old, Saroeun had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Saroeun experiences headaches, infection, discharge, tinnitus, and itchiness. It is difficult for her to listen clearly to others and cannot communicate well.

Saroeun traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On November 18th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

Saroeun said, “I hope that after my surgery, the ear infection will stop and my hearing will improve.”

Saroeun is a 31-year old corn bread baker from Cambodia. In her free time, she enjoys looking after her two daughters and cooking for her fa...

Submitted by

Learn more

Saroeun's case was submitted by Lindsay Bownik at Children's Surgical Centre.

Saroeun's Timeline

November 18, 2019
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Saroeun was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
November 18, 2019
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Saroeun 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.
November 21, 2019
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Saroeun's profile was published to start raising funds.
December 3, 2019
TREATMENT UPDATE
Saroeun's treatment was successful. Read the update.
March 20, 2020
FULLY FUNDED
Saroeun's treatment was fully funded.

Share Saroeun's story

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment

Mastoidectomy

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $842 for Saroeun's treatment

Hospital Fees

$153

Medical Staff

$688

Medication

Supplies

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.

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