title: Percutaneous pedestal in cochlear implantation.
abstract: Direct electrical connection between an external sound-processing device and intracochlear electrodes is accomplished via a percutaneous pedestal. Patient pedestal complaints and experience have been recorded. Pedestal problems have been classified into six classes, with class 0 indicating no problems and the severity of problem increasing in classes 1 through 4. Class 5 indicates pedestal trauma. No class 5 problems were encountered. At 48 months of experience, 53% of patients were class 0 and 26% were class 1. The pedestal experience is detailed in the paper. The percutaneous pedestal has been found to be a well-tolerated, efficient system for information transfer in cochlear implant patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Parkin
mesh_terms: D003054:Cochlear Implants; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications