MED-EL Combi40+ cochlear implantation in adults.
OBJECTIVE
Cochlear implantation is currently the treatment of choice for severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. The MED-EL Combi40+ (Innsbruck, Austria) cochlear implant system was approved for use in the United States in 2001. This device employs a 31-mm-long electrode array, ceramic case, and continuous interleaved sampling with Hilbert transformation for envelope extraction. A single institution's experience with the Combi40+ implant in adult patients was reviewed.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Medical-surgical and audiological data were collected from 112 patients who received a MED-EL Combi40+ cochlear implant between December 1998 and April 2004.


RESULTS
The rate of surgical complications and speech perception testing results compared favorably with those of other cochlear implant systems. For postlingually deafened adults, mean CNC word, HINTQ, CUNY, and HINT + 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio scores after 1 year of implant usage were 54%, 87%, 96%, and 64%, respectively. Prelingually deafened adults also derived significant benefit, but plateau performance for these patients was well below that for patients with later onset of deafness and significant variability was seen in this group. Repeat implantation for suspected device malfunction was undertaken in seven cases (6% of devices) (mean duration of use, 28 +/- 12 mo) with ultimate resolution of the presenting problem.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results support the safety and efficacy of cochlear implantation with the MED-EL Combi40+ cochlear implant system.
Bassim
Marc K
MK
Department of Otolaryngology, Neuroscience Hospital, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Buss
Emily
E
Clark
Marcia S
MS
Kolln
Karen A
KA
Pillsbury
Carol H
CH
Pillsbury
Harold C
HC
Buchman
Craig A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies