title: How we do it: Local anaesthetic cochlear implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review a patient series of 16 cochlear implantations performed under local anaesthetic (LA), including a description of the centre's technique for this procedure. We also describe the application of a method for calculation of the potential morbidity/mortality avoided by using this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart review of 16 patients' pre-operative medical and anaesthetic notes and calculation of predicted individual P-POSSUM Scores for operative morbidity/mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 16 patients were implanted successfully with no significant complications. Age range was 26-92 years, with an average of 68 years. The patients' average predicted mortality score associated with a general anaesthetic (GA) was 8.6% and morbidity score was 58%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience shows LA cochlear implantation to be a safe and effective procedure. It has the benefit of avoiding the operative mortality risk predicted by P-POSSUM Scores. Cochlear implantation is known to significantly improve quality of life for users. Our findings suggest a potential group of cochlear implant recipients considered 'unfit' for GA may be being denied access to this intervention or being exposed to additional risk.
authors.affiliation: Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. fearghal_t@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fearghal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toner
authors.forename: Conor P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Toner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local