Suppuration in ears suffering from a central perforation of the ear drum can frequently be stopped by mastoidectomy. This previous operation prepares ears for later tympanoplasty. 64 ears (55 patients) were treated by this way. Suppuration ceased in 47 ears. Spontaneous closure of the perforation could be seen in 7 cases. 23 ears underwent tympanoplastic procedures, always during a second intervention, 17 patients did not want further operations after the suppuration of their ears had stopped. Another 17 ears continued to reveal suppurative secretion in spite of mastoidectomy, mostly because of severe infection (resistant bacteria) or of insufficient mastoidectomy.