Medical or surgical complications related to the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant.
A questionnaire was sent to 152 surgeons to survey complications associated with the implantation of the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant. Complications were categorized as life-threatening; major, if they necessitated revision surgery; or minor, if they resolved spontaneously or with minimal treatment. A total of 55 complications occurred in 459 reported operations for an overall complication rate of 11.8%. There were no deaths, but there was one life-threatening complication, a case of meningitis. There were 23 (4.8%) major complications, most of which involved flap design or electrode insertion (and included the case of meningitis). There were 32 (7%) minor complications. Most of the complications might have been avoided by proper training, planning of the operations, and careful attention to detail. We recommend that all prospective implant surgeons attend a device-specific training course and practice in the temporal bone laboratory.
D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology; D009336:Necrosis; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires