Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Chronic Otitis: Indications for Subtotal Petrosectomy and Obliteration of the Middle Ear

AbstractObjective:A systematic review was performed to evaluate the role and effectiveness of head bandages after routine elective middle-ear surgery.Methods:Studies that compared the effectiveness of head bandage use after elective middle-ear surgery (e.g. myringoplasty, mastoidectomy and cochlear implantation) were identified using the following databases: Ovid Medline and Embase, the Ebsco collections, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar. An initial search identified 71 articles. All titles and abstracts were reviewed. Thirteen relevant articles were inspected in more detail; of these, only five met the inclusion criteria. These included three randomised, controlled trials, one retrospective case series and one literature review.Results:The three randomised, controlled trials (level of evidence 1b) showed no statistically significant differences in post-operative outcomes (in terms of complications) associated with head bandage use in middle-ear surgery. This finding was supported by the retrospective case series involving patients undergoing cochlear implantation.Conclusion:Current available evidence shows no advantage of head bandage use after middle-ear surgery. Head bandages may not be required after routine, uncomplicated middle-ear surgery.

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Extra- and Intracochlear Electrocochleography in Cochlear Implant Recipients

Audiology and Neurotology ◽

10.1159/000438742 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 339-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Adrian Dalbert ◽

Flurin Pfiffner ◽

Christof Röösli ◽

Konrad Thoele ◽

Jae Hoon Sim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cochlear Implant ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Cochlear Implantation ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Electrode Array ◽

Postoperative Phase ◽

Residual Hearing ◽

Middle Ear Effusion ◽

Cochlear Function ◽

Ear Effusion

Objective: To monitor cochlear function by extra- and intracochlear electrocochleography (ECoG) during and after cochlear implantation and thereby to enhance the understanding of changes in cochlear function following cochlear implantation surgery. Methods: ECoG responses to acoustic stimuli of 250, 500 and 1,000 Hz were recorded in 9 cochlear implant recipients with presurgical residual hearing. During surgery extracochlear ECoG recordings were performed before and after insertion of the cochlear implant electrode array. After insertion of the electrode array, intracochlear ECoG recordings were conducted using intracochlear electrode contacts as recording electrodes. Intracochlear ECoG recordings were performed up to 6 months after implantation. ECoG findings were correlated with findings from audiometric tests. Results: Extra- and intracochlear ECoG responses could be recorded in all subjects. Extracochlear ECoG recordings during surgery showed moderate changes. Loss or reduction of the ECoG signal at all three frequencies did not occur during cochlear implantation. During the first week following surgery, conductive hearing loss, due to middle ear effusion, led to a decrease in intracochlear ECoG signal amplitudes. This was not attributable to changes of cochlear function. All persistent reductions in ECoG response magnitude after normalization of the tympanogram occurred during the first week following implantation. Thresholds of ECoG signals were at or below hearing thresholds in all cases. Conclusion: Gross intracochlear trauma during surgery appears to be rare. In the early postoperative phase the ability to assess cochlear status by ECoG recordings was limited due to the regular occurrence of middle ear effusion. Still, intracochlear ECoG along with tympanogram recordings suggests that any changes of low-frequency cochlear function occur mainly during the first week after cochlear implantation. ECoG seems to be a promising tool to objectively assess changes in cochlear function in cochlear implant recipients and may allow further insight into the mechanisms underlying the loss of residual hearing.

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