Revision cochlear implant surgery for clinical reasons.

OBJECTIVE

To report the authors' experience in a series of patients treated with cochlear implant (CI) revision surgery due to medical problems.

METHODS

Revision CI surgeries performed in a tertiary referral centre for medical reasons not related to skin conditions were reviewed; patients were included if device removal was required.

RESULTS

17 cochlear implant patients were reviewed. The main reasons requiring revision surgery with device removal were: retraction pocket/iatrogenic cholesteatoma (6/17), chronic otitis (3/17), extrusion in previous canal wall down procedures (2/17) or in previous subtotal petrosectomy (2/17), misplacement/partial array insertion (2/17) and residual petrous bone cholesteatoma (2/17). In all cases surgery was performed through a subtotal petrosectomy. Cochlear fibrosis/ossification of the basal turn was found in 5 cases and uncovered mastoid portion of the facial nerve in 3 patients. The only complication was an abdominal seroma. A positive difference was observed between the number of active electrodes and comfort levels before and after revision surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

In CI revision surgeries performed for medical reasons, subtotal petrosectomy offers invaluable advantages and should be considered as first choice during surgical planning.