Retrospective study of cochlear implantations at a single facility focusing on postoperative complications

Although cochlear implantation (CI) is a relatively safe operation, postoperative complications sometimes occur. We reviewed the frequency and severity of complications of CI at our hospital. We compared our results with previously reported complications and considered measures to improve patient outcomes.

This retrospective study examined the medical records of 70 patients who received CI between March 2005 and December 2018. We collected the following data: age at the time of the first surgery, etiology of hearing impairment, date of implantation, type of implanted devices, and complications. Surgical complications were divided by time into perioperative, early, and late, and by severity into major or minor.

Records of 38 adults and 32 children were analyzed. Bilateral CI was performed in 16 patients, 8 of whom were sequential, and unilateral CI was performed in 54 patients. The total number of operations was 78 for 86 CI. Complications were observed in 15 of 78 operations (19%), and the rates of minor and major complications were 15% and 4%, respectively. Complication rates were 21% (8/39) for children and 10% (4/39) for adults. All of the perioperative and early complications were minor. There were three major complications, all of which were infections presenting with mastoiditis and subcutaneous or subperiosteal abscesses. One case required reimplantation twice because of recurrent mastoiditis and temporal abscess.

There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between children and adults, but all major complications were infection in pediatric cases. Careful attention is needed to prevent postoperative infection.