Cochlear implantation in atelectasis and chronic otitis media: long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To report the long-term results of cochlear implantation in cases with chronic otitis media or atelectasis using a single surgical technique performed in a single cochlear implant center.


METHODS
Nine patients who were implanted using the blind-pit closure of the external ear canal technique (4 patients with adhesive otitis media and 5 with radical mastoid cavities). Follow-up ranged from 18 months to 12 years (mean, 7.05 yr).


METHODS
The surgical procedure was performed in 2 stages. The first stage included canal wall down or lowering any high facial ridge in previous mastoidectomies, removal of all skin, and blind-pit closure of the external ear canal without mastoid cavity obliteration or eustachian tube obliteration. Cochlear implantation was performed 6 months after the first surgical procedure.


RESULTS
All operations were uneventful, and during cochlear implantation, as a second stage, no epithelia or other problems were encountered. No serious complications were encountered during the follow-up period. One case had a minor disruption of the external canal closure that was reclosed successfully under local anesthesia. All patients were using the device at the last follow-up interval with no device problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Blind-sac closure of the external ear canal without obliteration is a rather safe surgical procedure in cases with chronic otitis media or atelectasis. Meticulous surgical technique and proper patient selection are of paramount importance. However, a 2-stage procedure may not always be necessary and might best be confined to those patients who have active inflammatory disease at the primary procedure.
ENT Department, Athens University, Ippokratio, Greece.
John
J
Xenellis
Thomas P
TP
Nikolopoulos
Pavlos
P
Marangoudakis
Petros V
PV
Vlastarakos
Antonios
A
Tsangaroulakis
Eleftherios
E
Ferekidis
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003051:Cochlea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications*; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed