Cochlear implantation in Aksay University Clinic: A review of 135 cases

Introduction: Around 430 million people today suffer from mild to profound hearing loss and require rehabilitation. One option offered to patients with sensorineural hearing loss is cochlear implantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the complication rate after cochlear implantation over an 8-month period. All complications were divided into 3 main groups: minor postoperative, major postoperative, and device-related failures. Additionally, the methods for prevention and management are discussed.

Study design: Retrospective analysis of surgical complications after cochlear implantation.

Methods: Our study included a total of 135 children (65 boys and 70 girls) who underwent cochlear implantation in Aksay University Clinic from January 2022 to August 2022. The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 15 months. The mean age at the time of their respective procedures was 3.9 years (age range: 6 months – 17 years 8 months).

Results: A total of 21 complications (15.5%) were registered among the 135 patients. Of these, 9 (6.6%) were major complications and 12 (8.8%) were minor. The most prevalent cause of major complications was electrode misplacement (5 patients, 3.7%), while for minor complications it was hematoma (9 patients, 6.6%). In our study, there were more postoperative major complications and the number of complications was generally comparable to the world literature.

Conclusion: Cochlear implantation is a safe, modern surgical procedure for treating sensorineural hearing loss and it is associated with a low complication rate. However, patients have to be informed about all possible complications and surgeons have to know the means of optimal prevention.