title: Postoperative complications in cochlear implants: a retrospective analysis of 438 consecutive cases.
abstract: Our objective is to determine the complication rate in a population of infants, children, adolescents and adults, from a University Hospital Cochlear Implant program and to discuss their causes and treatments. The methods include a retrospective study of 438 consecutive patients in a tertiary referral centre, the Audiology Department of the University Hospital of Ferrara. All patients receiving cochlear implants, between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2009, have been included. All complications and treatments were systematically reviewed with an average duration of follow-up of 46 months (range 10-84 months). The results reveal that the overall rate of complications in our group was 9.1% (40 of 438), and most of them were minor. Wound swelling and infections represent the most common complication occurred. There were no cases of transient or permanent facial palsy following surgery, and also we did not register any case of postsurgical meningitis. Thirteen patients (3.0%) underwent explantation followed by reimplantation. In conclusion, we find that Cochlear implantation is a safe low-morbility technique with a relatively low complication rate in the presented population.
authors: Audiology Department, University Hospital of Ferrara, C.so Giovecca 203, Ferrara, Italy. andrea.ciorba@unife.it
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ciorba
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bovo
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Trevisi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rosignoli
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Aimoni
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Castiglione
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Martini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents