Management of complications in cochlear implantation

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica Vol. 128; no. 4; pp. 408 - 414
• Main Authors: Kim, Chong-Sun, Ha Oh, Seung, O Chang, Sun, Kim, Hyoung-Mi, Gu Hur, Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholm Informa UK Ltd 01-01-2008; Taylor & Francis; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Cochlear implant; Cochlear Implantation - adverse effects; complications; deaf; Decompression, Surgical; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Facial Nerve Diseases - epidemiology; Facial Nerve Diseases - etiology; Facial Nerve Diseases - surgery; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hematoma - epidemiology; Hematoma - etiology; Hematoma - surgery; Hemostasis, Surgical - methods; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Keratosis - epidemiology; Keratosis - etiology; Keratosis - surgery; Korea - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Prevalence; Prognosis; Prosthesis Failure; Retrospective Studies; surgery; Time Factors; Korea; Treatment; complications; Surgery; Auditory disorder; Cochlear implant; deaf; ENT disease; Complication; ENT; Hearing loss
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/00016480701784973

Conclusion. Cochlear implantation (CI) remains a safe procedure with a low complication rate. Nevertheless, advances in surgical techniques and the optimization of treatment modalities would further reduce complications. Objective. To assess the complications of CI and describe the management of each complication encountered at our hospital. Patients and methods. This study involved 720 patients that underwent implantation from November 1988 through April 2007. Mean age at implantation was 13.6 years (range 12 months to 83 years). Patients were followed up regularly with a mean follow-up of 42 months (range 4-81 months). Results. No death was attributed to device implantation. Major complications included: device failure in 12 patients, misplaced electrodes in 4, hematoma in 3, flap necrosis in 3, magnet displacement in 2, facial nerve twitching in 2, electrode exposure in 2, external auditory canal keratoma in 1, immediate facial nerve paralysis in 1, and skin flap irritation due to the suture material in 1. The overall major complication rate was 4.2% (30/720), and there were 37 minor complications (5.1%), which were resolved by conservative treatment or minor intervention. Minor complications included temporary vertigo in 17 patients, facial twitching in 11, hematoma in 4, subcutaneous emphysema in 3, and temporary facial nerve paralysis in 2.