Complications in 2000 Adult and Paediatric Cochlear Implants: What to Expect and When| ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica

Abstract

Objective: Identify the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications of adult and paediatric cochlear implants (CIs), in a large cohort with a long follow-up.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of charts of 2000 consecutive cases of CI, in a single institution.

Results: 8.9% of paediatric CIs developed a complication after a mean period of 5.5±5.8 years. 12% of adult CIs developed a complication after a mean period of 3.5±5.3 years.

Seroma was the most frequent paediatric complication (1.8%), after a mean of 8.9±5.4 years, while vertigo was the most common complaint in adults (2.58%), emerging in the first year. Both complications were generally managed conservatively. Acute otitis media or abscess with extrusion of the receiver/stimulator required a surgical revision, with or without CI explantation, in 23.53% and 76.9% of cases, respectively. Cholesteatoma or chronic otitis media were always surgically treated and required CI explantation in 86.7% of cases. All cases complicated by device failure (1.2% and 0.86% of paediatric and adult CIs, respectively) were treated with CI explantation and reimplantation, and emerged after a mean of 5±4 years.

Conclusions: Knowledge and decade long monitoring of the complications related to this procedure are fundamental.