title: Results of a prospective surgical audit of bilateral paediatric cochlear implantation in the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Following the approval of bilateral paediatric cochlear implantation in 2009, the prospective multi-centre UK National Paediatric Cochlear Implant Audit was established to collect a large dataset of paediatric implantations. The aim of the surgical part of the audit, reported here, was to collect data on surgical practice, outcomes and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 14 surgical centres was collected prospectively, including simultaneous and sequential bilateral as well as unilateral implantations. Data collected included age at implantation, aetiology of deafness, implant type, duration of surgery, the use of electrophysiological testing, and the use of pre- and post-operative imaging. Details of major and immediate minor complications were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1397 CI procedures in 961 CI recipients were included; 436 bilateral simultaneous, 394 bilateral sequential, 131 unilateral. The overall major complication rate was 1.6% (0.9% excluding device failure) and was similar following bilateral CI compared to sequential and unilateral CI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospective multi-centre audit provides evidence that bilateral paediatric CI is a safe procedure in the UK, thus endorsing its role as a major therapeutic intervention in childhood deafness.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Broomfield
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emmett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003638:Deafness / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000601:surgery*; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Audit; Cochlear Implant; Complications; Pediatric