Abstract
Objectives:
1) Determine the incidence of complications of cochlear implants (CIs) in our small program; 2) Compare device failures and medical failures between types of implants; 3) Describe minor and major complications and patterns of CI device malfunction/failure.
Methods:
A chart review of CI patients in an academic medical center was performed in January 2013. Major complications included infections, tissue breakdown, or device failure requiring surgical management, including explantation. Device failure was determined by the CI surgeon, audiologist, or both. Minor complications included infections managed medically or with office procedures. Preliminary review included known patients with complications, device failures, and revision surgery and non-users.
Results:
Between 1990 and 2012, 232 CI patients received care at our institution, including 16 implanted elsewhere. Nine patients (4%) experienced only minor complications, and 28 patients (12%) experienced a major complication. There were 20 cases of device failure in 19 patients (8%). Twenty-three explants were performed in 22 patients (9%), indicated for device malfunction in 18 cases (17 patients, 7%); infection and extrusion in 2 patients (1%); headache in 2 patients (1%), and facial nerve stimulation in 1 patient. Magnet extrusion without acute infection occurred in 2 patients (1%), requiring 3 surgeries with the device in vivo. There were 3 non-users (1%), one of whom was explanted for headache. Three patients (1%) had more than 1 revision surgery.
Conclusions:
Our complication rates are similar to those reported in the literature. Device testing post-explantation is rarely received by the manufacturer; device failure appears to be a clinical diagnosis.
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