Unexpected findings and surgical complications in 505 consecutive cochlear implantations: a proposal for reporting consensus.
CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implantation is a safe procedure in experienced hands, as the rate of severe complications is below 2%. Complications differ between children and adults, and transient disequilibrium/vertigo is the most common complication, followed by wound infection, haematoma/oedema and transient chorda tympani syndrome. An international consensus on the reporting of complications is proposed, as a high degree of variability occurs in the literature, which precludes an overview necessary for adequate patient information and for incentives aimed at prevention.


OBJECTIVE
To report unexpected findings and surgical complications in 505 consecutive cochlear implantations, and propose a consensus for reporting complications.


METHODS
This was a retrospective file review of 367 consecutive patients (505 implantations), of which 187 children had received 313 implants and 180 adults 192 implants.


RESULTS
The overall complication rate was 29.1%, with a major complication rate of 1.8%. When deducting vertigo/disequilibrium, the overall complication rate was 18.3%. Adults had a complication rate of 58.8%, 1.6% being major. Vertigo/disequilibrium was the most common complication (25%), followed by wound infection (8.9%) and transient chorda tympani syndrome (5.7%). In the paediatric group, complications occurred in 14.7%, 1.9% being major. The children suffered most frequently from wound infection (3.8%), vertigo/disequilibrium (2.2%) and haematoma/oedema (2.2%).
Hansen
Søren
S
East Danish Cochlear Implant Centre, Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Denmark.
Anthonsen
Kristian
K
Stangerup
Sven-Eric
SE
Jensen
Jørgen Hedegaard
JH
Thomsen
Jens
J
Cayé-Thomasen
Per
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D032921:Consensus; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult