This Morning star Vanessa Feltz rushed to hospital for emergency surgery

Radio host forced to miss show as medics battle to save her hearing

Vanessa Feltz has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery in a bid to save her hearing.

The This Morning host, 59, had to cancel her Radio 2 show on Tuesday morning and drove herself to A&E after suffering severe pain in her ear.

She was taken to hospital in London on Monday night where she underwent a five-hour operation. The surgery was successful and Vanessa is now recovering at home.

A spokesperson for Vanessa said: "Vanessa was taken to hospital last night after suffering severe pain in her ear. She underwent a five-hour operation which was successful.

"She is now recovering at home and hopes to be back on the radio soon." Vanessa has thanked the NHS for their care and has said that she is "incredibly grateful" for the support she has received from her fans.

What is the surgery that Vanessa Feltz had?

Vanessa Feltz had a five-hour operation to save her hearing. The surgery was successful and she is now recovering at home.

The type of surgery that Vanessa had is called a stapedectomy. This is a surgical procedure that is used to treat a condition called otosclerosis, which is a hardening of the bone in the middle ear.

Otosclerosis can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. The stapedectomy procedure involves replacing the stapes, which is one of the three small bones in the middle ear, with a prosthetic stapes.

What is the recovery time for a stapedectomy?

The recovery time for a stapedectomy is typically two to four weeks. During this time, patients will need to avoid strenuous activity and protect their ear from water.

Most patients will experience some hearing loss after surgery, but this usually improves over time. In some cases, patients may experience complete hearing loss in the operated ear.

What are the risks of a stapedectomy?

The risks of a stapedectomy are rare, but they can include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Damage to the facial nerve
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Dizziness

Patients who are considering stapedectomy should discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with their doctor.