Cochlear implantation in a patient with grand mal epilepsy.
A case is reported in which a Nucleus 22 channel intracochlear implant was used to treat a deaf Hungarian woman (aged 37 years) with a 34-year history of grand mal (GM) epilepsy maintained on carbamazepine-diazepam combination therapy who had not benefited from conventional hearing aids. Pre-operative electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve, however, exhibited a good nerve function with no evidence of abnormal waveforms in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Successful intracochlear insertion of the 22 electrode resulted in a 40 dB hearing improvement at frequencies 250-2000 Hz in the implanted ear with no signs of pathologic wave activity at either the previously recognized epileptic focus (fronto-precentral region) or indeed, in other regions of the brain at use of the implant. We conclude that intracochlear implantation per se is not a hazardous intervention in patients with fronto-precentral epileptic foci.
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary. jutka@orl.szote.u-szeged.hu
J
J
Szilvassy
J
J
Czigner
I
I
Somogyi
J
J
Jori
J G
JG
Kiss
Z
Z
Szilvassy
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
D000927:Anticonvulsants