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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Impedance Monitoring for Cochlear Implant Surgery
Published on: August 4, 2023
Perioperative complications of cochlear implant surgery in children
V Darlong1, Puneet Khanna, Dalim Kumar Baidya
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, 5th Floor Teaching Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
Insights
Cochlear implantation in children is safe under general anesthesia, with minimal anesthesia-related complications. Surgical issues were mostly minor and resolved without intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Cochlear implantation is a common procedure for pediatric hearing loss.
- Anesthesia management and complication data for pediatric cochlear implants are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and complications of general anesthesia for cochlear implantation in children.
- To analyze anesthesia-related and surgical complications in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 190 pediatric patients undergoing cochlear implantation from 2007-2012.
- Analysis of demographic data, anesthetic techniques, and perioperative complications.
Main Results:
- General endotracheal anesthesia with inhalational agents was used in all cases.
- Anesthesia complications included laryngospasm (4.73%), emergence agitation (2.63%), and PONV (1.05%).
- Surgical complications included CSF leak (3.15%), device issues (1.05%), and flap infection (1.57%).
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation under general anesthesia is safe in pediatric patients.
- Anesthesia-related complications are minimal, and surgical complications are predominantly minor.
Abstract:
Cochlear implant is a commonly performed surgery for hearing loss in pre-school and school children. However, data on anesthesia management and anesthesia-related complications are sparse. We retrospectively reviewed the data of our institute from January, 2007 to December, 2012. Medical records and anesthesia charts of all the patients who had undergone cochlear implant under general anesthesia between this period were reviewed. Information related to the demographic profile, preoperative evaluation, anesthetic techniques, and perioperative complications were collected and analyzed. A total of 190 patients underwent cochlear implant surgery for pre-lingual (175) and post-lingual (15) deafness. General endotracheal anesthesia with inhalational agents was used in all the cases. Difficult intubation was encountered in three patients. Anesthesia-related complications were laryngospasm at extubation (4.73 %), emergence agitation (2.63 %), and postoperative nausea and vomiting (1.05 %). Major surgical complications were CSF leak without meningitis (3.15 %), device migration/failure (1.05 %), and flap infection (1.57 %). Cochlear implant under general anesthesia in small children is safe and anesthesia-related complications were minimal. Surgical complications, although more frequent, were predominantly minor and self-limiting.
