Cochlear Implantation: Electrode Impedance in Users With Triphasic Pulse Pattern.

OBJECTIVES

The triphasic pulse pattern (TPP) is one of the successful strategies for managing facial nerve stimulation (FNS) after cochlear implantation (CI). This study evaluates the electrode impedance (EI) changes for patients who were shifted from the biphasic pulse pattern (BPP) to TPP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted on the patients who experienced FNS post-CI and were managed with a TPP strategy. The fitting parameters with TPP were compared to those with BPP, including electrode impedance, maximum comfortable levels (MCL), threshold levels (THR), and phase duration. .

RESULTS

This study included 25 implanted ears. The impedances of the electrode contacts significantly decreased when shifted to TPP at the first two apical contacts compared to the BPP (7.0 ± 2.7 vs. 7.8 ± 3.4 kΩ at the first contact and 6.5 ± 2.4 vs. 7.1 ± 2.9 kΩ at the second contact, respectively). The MCL showed a statistically significant increase with TPP compared to the BPP at the first 10 electrode contacts.

CONCLUSION

The TPP of stimulation appears to be a successful strategy for managing FNS. Among the patients with FNS, there is a decrease in the most apical impedance values and an increase in MCL when using TPP. These findings suggest that TPP might be considered a routine and successful pattern for FNS patients. Future studies should investigate the impact of different stimulation patterns on CI outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE