title: Complications of pediatric auditory brain stem implantation via retrosigmoid approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to present the complications of auditory brain stem implantations (ABI) in pediatric patients which were performed via retrosigmoid approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2007 and February 2010, five prelingually deaf children underwent ABI (Medel device) operation via retrosigmoid approach. All children had severe cochlear malformations. The ages ranged from 20 months to 5 years. The perioperative complications encountered in 2 patients were evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No intraoperative complication was observed in the patients. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage was the most common postoperative complication that was seen in 2 patients. The CSF leak triggered a cascade of comorbidities, and elongated the hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric ABI surgery can lead to morbidity. The CSF leak is the most common complication encountered in retrosigmoid approach. The other complications usually result from long-term hospital stay during treatment period of the CSF leak. Therefore, every attempt must be made to prevent occurrence of CSF leaks in pediatric ABI operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. bayazity@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yildirim A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Bayazit
authors.forename: Ayça
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abaday
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dogulu
authors.forename: Nebil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Göksu
mesh_terms: D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003638:Deafness / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed