Revision cochlear implant surgery for clinical reasons

OBJECTIVE: To report the authors’ experience in a series of patients treated with cochlear implant (CI) revision surgery due to medical problems. METHODS: Revision CI surgeries performed in a tertiary referral centre for medical reasons not related to skin conditions were reviewed; patients were included if device removal was required. RESULTS: 17 cochlear implant patients were reviewed. The main reasons requiring revision surgery with device removal were: retraction pocket/iatrogenic cholesteatoma (6/17), chronic otitis (3/17), extrusion in previous canal wall down procedures (2/17) or in previous subtotal petrosectomy (2/17), misplacement/partial array insertion (2/17) and residual petrous bone cholesteatoma (2/17). In all cases surgery was performed through a subtotal petrosectomy. Cochlear fibrosis/ossification of the basal turn was found in 5 cases and uncovered mastoid portion of the facial nerve in 3 patients. The only complication was an abdominal seroma. A positive difference was observed between the number of active electrodes and comfort levels before and after revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In CI revision surgeries performed for medical reasons, subtotal petrosectomy offers invaluable advantages and should be considered as first choice during surgical planning.