Retrolabyrinthine approach for surgical placement of auditory brainstem implants in children.
CONCLUSIONS
The extended retrolabyrinthine approach (RLA) is a safe and reliable approach for auditory brainstem placement in children. The surgical landmarks to reach cochlear nucleus are adequately exposed by this approach.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a new approach option for auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) in children, highlighting the anatomical landmarks to appropriately expose the foramen of Luschka.


METHODS
Three prelingually deafened children consecutively operated for ABIs via the RLA.


RESULTS
ABI placement via the RLA was successfully performed in all children without any further complications except multidirectional nystagmus in one child. The RLA we employed differed from that used for vestibular schwannoma only in the removal of the posterior semicircular canal. The lateral and superior semicircular canals and the vestibule remained intact, and there was no need to expose the dura of the internal auditory meatus. The jugular bulb was completely exposed to allow adequate visualization of the ninth cranial nerve and cerebellar flocculus.
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
Ricardo Ferreira
RF
Bento
Tatiana Alves
TA
Monteiro
Robinson Koji
RK
Tsuji
Marcos Queiroz Telas
MQ
Gomez
Mariana
M
Hausen Pinna
Maria Valeria Schmidt
MV
Goffi-Gomez
Rubens
R
Brito
D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D038262:Auditory Brain Stem Implants; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000601:surgery*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed