title: Re-implantation of the Rion E-type semi-implantable hearing aid: status of long-term use and hearing outcomes in eight patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Rion Ehime (E)-type implantable hearing aid (IHA) is the first middle ear implant. We implanted 39 IHAs into 39 patients, and found that the IHA functioned well for >15 years. So far, 28 IHAs have been removed because they stopped functioning. An IHA was re-implanted in 8 of the 28 cases. This study assessed the status of long-term use and hearing outcomes in the eight patients to confirm the safety and advantages of repeated implant operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current status and operational findings of the eight re-implantees and hearing outcomes were investigated by reviewing the patients' records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four of the eight cases still use their devices; all four originally suffered from cholesteatoma. In the remaining four cases, the devices stopped functioning 2.4-9.4 years after re-implantation; they suffered from chronic otitis media. Preoperative air and bone conduction hearing and IHA hearing 3 months after the first implantation were 61.1±13.1dB, 40.6±11.3dB, and 26.9±10.5dB, respectively (n=8). At the time of removal, they were 59.4±12.4dB, 40.2±14.2dB, and 42.9±14.9dB, respectively. Three months after re-implantation, they were 60.4±14.6dB, 37.3±14.7dB, and 29.4±13.4dB, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Re-implantation of an IHA is beneficial and safe for patients. As the absence of active inflammation has a crucial effect on the period of use, re-implantation should be judged carefully after deterioration of the initial implant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Takanoko Hospital, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. komori@kochi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hinohira
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hato
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gyo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001844:Bone Conduction; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome