Intra and postoperative electrocochleography in cochlear implant recipients: retrospective chart review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Audiology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Cochlear implantation (CI) is a common treatment for severe to profound hearing loss.
• Intraoperative electrocochleography (ECochG) may offer insights into cochlear function during CI surgery.
• Understanding the relationship between ECochG and postoperative hearing is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze electrocochleography (ECochG) data from cochlear implant (CI) surgeries.
• To compare intraoperative ECochG findings with existing literature.
• To investigate the correlation between ECochG measurements and postoperative audiological assessments.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 35 patients (42 ears) undergoing CI surgery.
• Intraoperative and postoperative ECochG measurements were collected.
• Postoperative audiological assessments were extracted from medical records.

Main Results:

• Intraoperative ECochG was measurable in 40.5% of cases (mean peak amplitude 103.3 µvolts).
• Electrode array type did not significantly impact ECochG amplitude (p = .630).
• Postoperative ECochG thresholds showed a significant correlation with behavioral thresholds one month after CI implantation (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• ECochG responses can be measured during CI surgery, even in patients with significant preoperative hearing loss.
• Electrode type did not influence ECochG peak amplitude or residual hearing preservation.
• Postoperative ECochG thresholds are a significant predictor of long-term hearing outcomes following CI.