Management of complications in cochlear implantation.
CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implantation (CI) remains a safe procedure with a low complication rate. Nevertheless, advances in surgical techniques and the optimization of treatment modalities would further reduce complications.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the complications of CI and describe the management of each complication encountered at our hospital.


METHODS
This study involved 720 patients that underwent implantation from November 1988 through April 2007. Mean age at implantation was 13.6 years (range 12 months to 83 years). Patients were followed up regularly with a mean follow-up of 42 months (range 4-81 months).


RESULTS
No death was attributed to device implantation. Major complications included: device failure in 12 patients, misplaced electrodes in 4, hematoma in 3, flap necrosis in 3, magnet displacement in 2, facial nerve twitching in 2, electrode exposure in 2, external auditory canal keratoma in 1, immediate facial nerve paralysis in 1, and skin flap irritation due to the suture material in 1. The overall major complication rate was 4.2% (30/720), and there were 37 minor complications (5.1%), which were resolved by conservative treatment or minor intervention. Minor complications included temporary vertigo in 17 patients, facial twitching in 11, hematoma in 4, subcutaneous emphysema in 3, and temporary facial nerve paralysis in 2.
Kim
Chong-Sun
CS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chongkim@snu.ac.kr
Oh
Seung Ha
SH
Chang
Sun O
SO
Kim
Hyoung-Mi
HM
Hur
Dong Gu
DG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007642:Keratosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors