Dutch Cochlear Implant Group (CI-ON) consensus protocol on postmeningitis hearing evaluation and treatment.
OBJECTIVE
One of the most devastating sequelae of bacterial meningitis is profound hearing loss or even deafness. Although cochlear implantation is able to restore (some) hearing abilities, obliteration due to fibrosis and especially calcification of the cochlea in the postmeningitis period is limiting the success rate of an implantation. A national consensus assembled in a postmeningitis follow-up protocol has to increase awareness and thus the chances of an early detection and possible intervention when profound hearing loss occurs.


METHODS
All cochlear implant (CI) centers of The Netherlands located in the 8 academic otorhinolaryngology and audiology departments of The Netherlands, gathered in the Dutch Cochlear Implant Group (CI-ON, Cochlear Implant Overleg Nederland).


METHODS
A protocol proposed by 3 centers was sent to all other CI centers in The Netherlands to review and agree on.


METHODS
The CI centers agreed on the need for, and use of, the proposed protocol. Keystones of the protocol are treatment with dexamethasone before start of antibiotics, early magnetic resonance imaging and repeated audiological follow-up, and urgent referral to a CI center in all cases with greater than 30 dB SNHL.


CONCLUSIONS
The Cochlear Implant Centers in The Netherlands (CI-ON) have agreed on a protocolized follow-up after bacterial meningitis to increase the chances of an early detection and possible intervention should profound hearing loss occur.
Merkus
Paul
P
Cochlear Implant team Amsterdam VUMC, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.merkus@vumc.nl; ci@vumc.nl
Free
Rolien H
RH
Mylanus
Emmanuel A M
EA
Stokroos
Robbert
R
Metselaar
Mick
M
van Spronsen
Erik
E
Grolman
Wilko
W
Frijns
Johan H M
JH
D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*