Dw. Proops et al., Medical, surgical and audiological complications of the first 100 adult cochlear implant patients in Birmingham, J LARYNG OT, 113, 1999, pp. 14-17
Of the first 100 patients implanted on the Midland Cochlear Implant Program
me the commonest aetiologies of deafness were idiopathic 31 per cent, menin
gitis 28 per cent and cochlear otosclerosis 16 per cent.
The major complication rate was three per cent. The most severe was one ind
ividual who post-operatively developed a cerebral infarct and subsequently
died. The minor complication rate was 39 per cent, all of which successfull
y resolved, and included 11 cases of wound infection, nine cases of vertigo
, three transient facial palsies and two post-operative bleeds.
Older patients and men were most likely to have a pest-operative medical co
mplication. Women were more likely to have an abnormal electrode insertion.
Meningitis and otosclerosis were the most complicated aetiologies in terms
of cochlear ossification and electrode insertion. A non-patent cochlea was
associated with fewer active electrodes. In six cases which had been repor
ted pre-operatively as showing patent cochleas, some form of obstructional
ossification was encountered. Patients functioning with greater than 15 act
ive electrodes performed better on auditory tests than patients with fewer
than 15 active electrodes.