Surgeon-performed intraoperative cochlear implant testing using SmartNav: A step toward streamlining surgical...

This study aims to assess the impact of the SmartNav system on the surgical workflow and the necessity of audiologist presence in the operating room (OR).

A prospective cohort study was conducted on 40 pediatric cochlear implant surgeries using the Cochlear CI 632 device with the SmartNav system. All patients were aged 18 years or younger and had normal cochlear anatomy. The study evaluated a surgeon-performed SmartNav protocol's efficiency, including preoperative registration, intraoperative assessment, and the remote transmission of data to audiologists.

The study included 34 patients, six of whom underwent bilateral implantation, resulting in 40 cochlear implants. The median age was 3.6 years. The median surgical time per ear was 86 min and the SmartNav protocol duration was 12.7 min. The insertion techniques included cochleostomy (11/40 ears), extended round window (13/40), and round window (16/40). The median insertion time was 47 s. No tip foldover occurrences were detected by SmartNav, and postoperative X-rays confirmed correct electrode placement. None of the cases required an audiologist to be present in the OR, and the remote transmission of data allowed for successful postoperative fitting with a median activation duration of 9 days after surgery.

The utility of SmartNav through a surgeon-performed intraoperative implanted device testing, offers a pathway to enhanced efficiency, reduced resource dependency, and potentially improved outcomes. This advancement may reduce operative time and optimizes resource utilization, contributing to improved auditory outcomes and patient care in pediatric cochlear implantation.