title: Postoperative complications in implanted patients in the Cochlear Implant Program of Rio Grande do Norte-Brazil.
abstract: Cochlear implant surgery is regarded as safe for the auditory rehabilitation of individuals suffering from profound/severe hearing loss. Complications may arise from the surgery. The complications of implant cochlear surgery reflect the operation complexity, the skill of the surgical team and the inherent risks of the procedure itself.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish and discuss the postoperative complications in implanted patients from the Cochlear Implant Program of Rio Grande do Norte-Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper discusses the clinical records of 250 patients implanted between August 2000 to December 2008. All patients were implanted by the same surgeon. The postoperative complications were classified in minor as those that resolved with minimal or no treatment and major as those requiring additional surgery or hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our sample, 33 patients (13.2%) had postoperative complications. Minor complications affected 20 cases (8.0%), while major complications occurred in 13 cases (5.2%). Hematomas, device failures and infections had the highest clinical relevance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review reinstates the safety of the surgical procedure in relation to the possible occurrence of postoperative complications and emphasizes the need for continuous surgeon education and training.
authors.affiliation: Cochlear Implant Program of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Rodolpho Penna
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lima Júnior
authors.forename: Fábio de Alencar
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Júnior
authors.forename: Clara Maria Dias Ferreira
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Calhau
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Dias Ferreira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Calhau
authors.forename: Clara Terra de Paiva
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Palhano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies