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Medical, surgical and audiological complications of the first 100 adult cochlear implant patients in Birmingham
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1999
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Fewer Active ElectrodesAdult AudiologyNeurotologySurgeryElectrode InsertionOrthopaedic SurgeryHearing AidsMedical Practice ManagementAuditory ScienceCochlear Implant CommunicationHealth SciencesAudiologyCochlear ImplantationHuman HearingFirst 100Active ElectrodesHearing LossCochlear ImplantMedicineAnesthesiologyAudiological Complications
In the first 100 Midland Cochlear Implant Programme patients, idiopathic deafness (31 %), meningitis (28 %) and cochlear otosclerosis (16 %) were the most common etiologies. Among these patients, the overall major complication rate was 3 % (including one fatal cerebral infarct), while minor complications occurred in 39 % and resolved, with older men more prone to medical complications, women more likely to have abnormal electrode insertion, meningitis and otosclerosis presenting the greatest ossification challenges, non‑patient cochleas yielding fewer active electrodes, pre‑operative patent cochleas sometimes showing obstruction, and patients with more than 15 active electrodes achieving superior auditory outcomes.
Of the first 100 patients implanted on the Midland Cochlear Implant Programme the commonest aetiologies of deafness were idiopathic 31 per cent, meningitis 28 per cent and cochlear otosclerosis 16 per cent. The major complication rate was three per cent. The most severe was one individual who post-operatively developed a cerebral infarct and subsequently died. The minor complication rate was 39 per cent, all of which successfully resolved, and included 11 cases of wound infection, nine cases of vertigo, three transient facial palsies and two post-operative bleeds. Older patients and men were most likely to have a post-operative medical complication. Women were more likely to have an abnormal electrode insertion. Meningitis and otosclerosis were the most complicated aetiologies in terms of cochlear ossification and electrode insertion. A non-patient cochlea was associated with fewer active electrodes. In six cases which had been reported pre-operatively as showing patent cochleas, some form of obstructional ossification was encountered. Patients functioning with greater than 15 active electrodes performed better on auditory tests than patients with fewer than 15 active electrodes.