COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION UNDER LOCAL-ANESTHESIA, THE BELFAST EXPERIENCE

The profoundly deaf, who gain little or no benefit from conventional h earing aids and meet various criteria are potential candidates for coc hlear implantation. The last two decades have witnessed remarkable pro gress in this field, and it is now a routine clinical procedure. A few adult patients who are potential candidates for cochlear implantation have an unacceptably high risk for hypotensive general anaesthesia du e to other systemic conditions. This group has been successfully impla nted under local anaesthesia in our centre. The post-implantation prog ress of these patients was comparable to those carried out under hypot ensive general anaesthesia. Data regarding patient selection criteria, examination, anaesthesia, surgery and the outcome are discussed. It w as concluded that cochlear implantation under local anaesthesia is a s afe and effective procedure for those patients who otherwise may be de nied an implant.