Brkic Faris F, Baumgartner Wolf-Dieter, Riss Dominik, Thurner Thomas, Liu David T, Gstöttner Wolfgang, Vyskocil Erich
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
J Pers Med. 2022 Jan 31;12(2):191. doi: 10.3390/jpm12020191.
Less than 20% of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (HL) provided with the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) experience a progressive HL and warrant cochlear implantation (CI). The aim of this study was to identify possible predictors of progressive HL prior to VSB implantation. This retrospective study included all consecutive ears with sensorineural HL provided with the VSB between 1998 and 2016. The patient cohort was divided in a study group comprising patients who underwent CI (CI group) after years of VSB usage and those who did not require VSB replacement during the observational time (control group). Pre- and postoperative pure-tone audiometry thresholds were compared among the two groups. Fifteen out of 81 VSB devices (18.5%) required a CI. The CI group had higher preoperative air-conduction (AC) thresholds than the control group (64.3 ± 8.9 dB vs. 56.3 ± 12.9 dB; = 0.007) at the time of the VSB implantation. On average, the CI group was significantly younger (39.1 ± 12.3 years vs. 52.6 ± 16.2 years; = 0.003). In conclusion, VSB users with higher preoperative AC thresholds and younger age at the time of VSB implantation might be at risk for progressive HL within the upcoming eight years and need a further CI surgery. Preoperative counseling is particularly advisable in this patient group.
接受振动声桥（VSB）治疗的感音神经性听力损失（HL）患者中，不到20%会出现进行性HL并需要进行人工耳蜗植入（CI）。本研究的目的是确定VSB植入前进行性HL的可能预测因素。这项回顾性研究纳入了1998年至2016年间所有接受VSB治疗的连续性感音神经性HL患者。将患者队列分为一个研究组，该组包括在使用VSB多年后接受CI的患者（CI组）和在观察期内不需要更换VSB的患者（对照组）。比较了两组术前和术后的纯音听力测定阈值。81个VSB装置中有15个（18.5%）需要进行CI。在VSB植入时，CI组的术前气导（AC）阈值高于对照组（64.3±8.9 dB对56.3±12.9 dB；P=0.007）。平均而言，CI组明显更年轻（39.1±12.3岁对52.6±16.2岁；P=0.003）。总之，术前AC阈值较高且VSB植入时年龄较小的VSB使用者在未来八年内可能有进行性HL的风险，需要进一步进行CI手术。对于该患者群体，术前咨询尤为可取。
