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Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Pediatric cochlear implants and myringotomy tubes: a systematic review
Shubham Patel1, Alexa Robbins1, Ching Siong Tey2,3
1Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, 1400 Tullie Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Insights
Pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes are not affected by prior or current myringotomy tubes. This systematic review found no link between ear tubes and intraoperative findings or post-operative acute otitis media in children receiving CIs.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Audiology
Background:
- Myringotomy tubes are common in children, often due to recurrent otitis media.
- Cochlear implantation (CI) is a surgical treatment for severe hearing loss in children.
- The potential impact of myringotomy tubes on CI outcomes requires investigation.
Conclusions:
- Perioperative outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation are not associated with the presence or history of myringotomy tubes.
- This finding supports the safety of proceeding with cochlear implantation in pediatric patients with a history of ear tubes.
- Surgeons can be reassured regarding the lack of negative impact on CI outcomes in this patient group.
Objective:
To evaluate the intraoperative findings and post-operative complications associated with patients who have current or history of myringotomy tubes undergoing a cochlear implantation.
Methods:
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement were followed. Studies from Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were included. Studies were independently screened and analyzed by 2 reviewers. Publications assessing pediatric patients with current or history of myringotomy tubes at time of cochlear implantation were reviewed. Discrepancies were resolved by a team of 4 reviewers.
Results:
172 studies were screened, 15 met inclusion criteria, and 12 were incorporated into the study. All 12 of the studies were retrospective cohort studies. Meta-analysis showed no significant relationship between intraoperative findings at time of cochlear implantation (presence of effusion, granulation tissue, edematous middle ear tissue) and myringotomy tube insertion (p = 0.63). Additionally, there was no significant relationship between current or history of myringotomy tube and acute otitis media episode after CI (p = 0.25).
Conclusion:
There was no association noted between perioperative outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation and myringotomy tube. This information will be helpful for surgeons planning to perform cochlear implantation in the pediatric population.
