Cochlear implants: our experience and literature review

Abstract

Summary Introduction: Cochlear Implants are important for individuals with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Objective: Evaluate the experience of cochlear implant center of Otorhinolaryngology through the analysis of records of 9 patients who underwent cochlear implant surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study performed with the patients records. Number 0191.0.107.000-11 ethics committee approval. We evaluated gender, etiology, age at surgery, duration of deafness, classification of deafness, unilateral or bilateral surgery, intraoperative and postoperative neural response and impedance of the electrodes in intraoperative and preoperative tests and found those that counter-indicated surgery. Results: There were 6 pediatric and 3 adult patients. Four male and 5 female. Etiologies: maternal rubella, cytomegalovirus, ototoxicity, meningitis, and sudden deafness. The age at surgery and duration of deafness ranged from 2–46 years and 2–18 years, respectively. Seven patients were pre-lingual. All had profound bilateral PA. There were 7 bilateral implants. Intraoperative complications: hemorrhage. Complications after surgery: vertigo and internal device failure. In 7 patients the electrodes were implanted through. Telemetry showed satisfactory neural response and impedance. CT and MRI was performed in all patients. We found enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct in a patient and incudomalleolar malformation. Conclusion: The cochlear implant as a form of auditory rehabilitation is well established and spreading to different centers specialized in otoaudiology. Thus, the need for structured services and trained professionals in this type of procedure is clear.

Resultados del Programa Nacional de Implantes Cocleares y Garantías Explícitas en Salud en beneficiarios pertenecientes al Servicio de Salud Aconcagua

“…En Chile, existe escasa evidencia publicada que describa la cantidad de implantes cocleares que han sido entregados a la fecha a través del PNIC o bien por medio de GES. La evidencia señala que el IC es la alternativa de tratamiento que mejores resultados demuestra en variables vinculadas con la costo-efectividad, desarrollo del lenguaje, habilidades comunicativas, integración social y mejoras en la calidad de vida 15,16 . Sin embargo, en Chile, existen barreras que determinan que, de un total de 545 personas postuladas entre los años 2003 y 2016, sólo 354 personas (70%) reciban este beneficio.…”

A micro fuel cell for abiotical catalysis of glucose

“…Their small physical footprint rendered these as interesting candidates for a new generation of medical devices that may track an ailment inside the body without any major surgical intervention. Popular device applications range from wireless pacemakers [1], to defibrillators [2], neurostimulators [3], insulin pump [4], glucose sensors [5], ID tags [6], cochlear [7] and retinal implants [8] and potential brain machine interfaces [9].…”