An unusual complication of cochlear implant: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Three days after the initial fitting of the cochlear device a 40-year-old w oman complained of severe rotational vertigo following head movements assoc iated with neurovegetative symptoms. Otoneurological evaluation revealed a horizontal paroxysmal positional nystagmus beating towards the lowermost ea r, induced by rolling the patient's head from supine both to the right or t o the left lateral position suggesting the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal p ositional vertigo of the left horizontal semicircular canal. The nystagmus characteristics were the same whether the cochlear device was switched on o r off. The hypothesis of an otolith dislodging due to the electrical stimul ation during the initial fitting is discussed.