Medical, surgical and audiological complications of the first 100 adult cochlear implant patients in Birmingham

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.