The use of an illuminated retractor in cochlear implantation: a comparative retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Minimal access surgery has been promoted to reduce the surgical duration and complications of cochlear implant (CI) surgery. A requirement of minimal access surgery is adequate visualization of the surgical cavities. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a new light-integrated surgical retractor reduced CI surgical time. DESIGN: A retrospective comparative study. SETTING: Tertiary referral otolaryngology clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients who received implants between January 2013 to May 2014 at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital before and after use of the illuminated retractor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Duration of surgery before and after the use of the illuminated retractor. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the surgical duration of CI relating to use of the illuminated retractor in 117 patients. The mean (SD) surgery duration in the unilateral cases was 132.7 (45.5) minutes before and 125.32 (42.76) minutes after use of the illuminated retractor (P=.479). For the bilateral cases, the mean (SD) surgical time was 213.6 (45.7) minutes before and 206.5 (45.5) minutes after use of the retractor (P=.702). There were no adverse events with use of the new tool. CONCLUSION: The similar duration and lack of adverse events suggest that the illuminated retractor is safe to use when drilling the bony recess for the receiver-stimulator package within the subperiosteal pocket. LIMITATIONS: The method used to calculate surgical duration may explain why no reduction in duration was shown.