Clinical results in paediatric cochlear implantation.
Surgical aspects of paediatric cochlear implantation and peri- and postoperative complications were evaluated in 137 consecutive patients. In 52 children with postmeningitic deafness, 60% of the cochleae showed ossification of some degree at surgery. In eight patients, this led to a partial insertion of the electrode array; in two patients a double array was used. Major intraoperative complications included CSF gusher in three, exposed carotid in one and a dura leak in another child. Major postoperative flap complications were encountered in two children with large skin flaps (1.4%). Three children underwent a reimplantation and one child required revision surgery for cholesteatoma at the implanted ear. The use of a small retroauricular incision has reduced the number of flap-related complications. Overall, the occurrence of major complications was low.
Mylanus
Emmanuel A M
EA
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
van den Broek
Paul
P