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Published on: August 4, 2023
Complications in children with long-term cochlear implants
Yung-Song Lin1, Fei-Peng Lee, Shu-Chen Peng
1Department of Otolaryngology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
Insights
Pediatric cochlear implantation is safe, with few severe complications. Long-term risks like cholesteatoma require regular ENT follow-ups for early detection and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cochlear implantation is a vital auditory restoration surgery for children with severe hearing loss.
- Understanding long-term complications is crucial for optimizing pediatric cochlear implant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence and nature of complications in pediatric cochlear implant recipients.
- To evaluate the safety and reliability of cochlear implantation in children over a 3-11 year follow-up period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 169 pediatric cochlear implant cases (1991-2002).
- Inclusion of demographic data and documented complications.
- Long-term results determined through follow-up phone calls and clinical visits.
Main Results:
- Medical-surgical complications included facial nerve stimulation, dizziness, flap breakdown, taste alteration, cholesteatoma, otitis media with effusion, and mastoiditis.
- Device-related complications involved 4 device failures and 1 device breakage.
- Chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma were identified as significant long-term complications.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation in children is a safe and reliable procedure with a low rate of severe complications.
- Chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma present long-term challenges requiring vigilant management.
- Regular ENT consultations are recommended for early detection and treatment of potential complications like cholesteatoma.
Objectives:
To evaluate the complications in children who underwent cochlear implantation between 1991 and 2002 at Chi Mei Medical Center, Taipei Medical University.
Method:
The medical records of 169 cases of pediatric cochlear implants from 1991 to 2002 with a follow-up period of 3-11 years were reviewed for demographics and complications. A follow-up phone call and clinical visits were performed to determine the long-term results.
Results:
The medical-surgical complications were facial nerve stimulation, transient dizziness, flap breakdown, minor change of taste, cholesteatoma, otitis media with effusion and mastoiditis. The device-related complications included 4 device failures and 1 device breakage in a traffic accident.
Conclusion:
Chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma developed in children as long-term complications and surgical challenges. Nevertheless, cochlear implantation surgery in children is a reliable and safe procedure with a low percentage of severe complications. To prevent cholesteatoma formation, parents are advised to schedule a regular ENT consultation at least yearly for early identification and treatment in the stages of acute otitis media or drum retraction.