Surgical complications in 550 consecutive cochlear implantation.
Cochlear implantation is a safe and reliable method for auditory restoration in patients with severe to profound hearing loss.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the surgical complications of cochlear implantation.


METHODS
Information from 591 consecutive multichannel cochlear implant surgeries were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed-up for at least one year. Forty-one patients were excluded because of missing data, follow-up loss or middle fossa approach.


RESULTS
Of 550 cochlear implantation analyzed, 341 were performed in children or adolescents, and 209 in adults. The mean hearing loss time was 6.3 ± 6.7 years for prelingual loss and 12.1 ± 11.6 years for postlingual. Mean follow-up was 3.9 ± 2.8 years. Major complications occurred in 8.9% and minor in 7.8%. Problems during electrode insertion (3.8%) were the most frequent major complication followed by flap dehiscence (1.4%). Temporary facial palsy (2.2%), canal-wall lesion (2.2%) and tympanic membrane lesion (1.8%) were the more frequent minor complications. No death occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a low rate of surgical complications, most of them been successfully managed. These results confirm that cochlear implant is a safe surgery and most surgical complications can be managed with conservative measures or minimal intervention.
Medical School of the University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Rubens
R
Brito
Tatiana Alves
TA
Monteiro
Aquiles Figueiredo
AF
Leal
Robinson Koji
RK
Tsuji
Mariana Hausen
MH
Pinna
Ricardo Ferreira
RF
Bento
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003638:Deafness / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies