title: Comparison of complications by technique used in cochlear implants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complications are a very sensitive indicator of the usefulness of a surgical technique. In cochlear implant surgery, there are 3 principal approaches: the classic approach uses the facial recess (FR), the suprameatal approach (SMA) does not require mastoidectomy and uses the creation of a tunnel over the facial nerve to enter the middle ear, and the endomeatal approach (EMA) is based on the completion of a groove in the posterior wall of external auditory canal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre review of 208 patients with cochlear implants, comparing the different techniques. The complications were classified into major and minor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 208 implanted patients, 10.5% (22 of 208) had complications. Of these, 2.88% (6 of 208) were major complications and 7.69% (16 of 208) were minor complications. Comparing the results obtained by the different approaches, the FR technique had the lowest rate of major complications (1.1%), followed by the EMA technique with 2.38% and SMA with 3.75%. As for minor complications, operations in the SMA group had the lowest rate (6.25%), followed by the EMA group (7.14%) and the group operated on using the FR technique presented the highest (10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3 techniques described show very similar rates of complications. Consequently, we can conclude that they are safe and are alternatives.
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio Allende, Córdoba, Argentina. mario.zernotti@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mario E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zernotti
authors.forename: Alejo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Slavutsky
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicenboim
authors.forename: María Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Di Gregorio
authors.forename: Juan Andrés
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D004868:Equipment Failure; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult