title: Auditory Brainstem Implant: surgical technique and early audiological results in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2.
abstract: Auditory Brainstem Implants were developed to partially restore the hearing capabilities of patients without cochlear nerves bilaterally.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  this paper aims to discuss the clinical and surgical findings of four ABI patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients diagnosed with bilateral schwannomas received auditory brainstem implants (ABI) and had one of their tumors resected in the same surgical procedure. Clinical aspects, surgical technique, anatomic landmarks, and outcomes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the anatomic landmarks were identified in all four patients in relation to the foramina of Luschka. Two patients had CSF leaks. The electrodes were well positioned and hearing sensation was good enough to allow for sound recognition and assist patients perform lip reading.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the outcomes observed in our patients were quite encouraging and offer great perspectives for those suffering from deep bilateral deafness and impaired central auditory pathways.
authors.affiliation: Full Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at Faculdade de Medicina da USP.
authors.forename: Ricardo Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bento
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at Faculdade de Medicina da USP.
authors.forename: Rubens Vuono Brito
authors.initials: RVB
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, assistant-physician at the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at HC-FMUSP.
authors.forename: Robinson Koji
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Assistant-physician in the course of Neurosurgery at Faculdade de Medicina da USP.
authors.forename: Marcos Queiroz Telas
authors.initials: MQT
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: PhD. Speech and hearing therapist at the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at HC-FMUSP. Course of Otorhinolaryngology at Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Maria Valéria Schmidt
authors.initials: MVS
authors.lastname: Goffi-Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D038262:Auditory Brain Stem Implants; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*