Different forms of dizziness occurring after cochlear implant

Abstract

Dizziness after cochlear implant (CI) was studied in a series of 94 consecutive adult patients receiving a cochlear implant, 46 (49.0%) of whom experienced dizziness post-operatively. In 29 patients, post-operative dizziness occurred soon after surgery and subsided within one month. Dizziness of the continuous type, lasting more than 6 months, was a complaint in only two patients. In addition to these already known forms of dizziness, spells of vertigo occurring later than one month after cochlear implant were experienced by 15 patients (delayed-V). The spells of delayed-V occurred suddenly and persisted for several hours. Moreover, 85.7% of delayed-V patients complained of hearing and tinnitus abnormalities during these spells. The clinical features of delayed-V were similar to those in patients with Meniere's disease. The preoperative bithermal caloric test showed a significantly higher response for the delayed-V group than the other groups (ANOVA: P < 0.05) in terms of slow phase eye velocity of caloric nystagmus. These findings suggest that inner ear lesions due to cochlear implant surgery develop gradually. Similarities in clinical features between delayed-V and Ménière's disease indicate the presence of labyrinthine hydrops.

Association between Hearing Loss and Vestibular Disorders: A Review of the Interference of Hearing in the Balance

“…This study proposed that the exam that involves all the sensory measures is sensitive in evaluating the posture stability [18]. In 2001 Kubo et al studied a group of 94 patients that presented the three types of dizziness after CI in 49% of the individuals [19]. This incidence is considerably higher than some previously reported, but is similar to the value reported by Ito in 1998 [20], in which 47% reported some kind of subjective dizziness.…”

Cochlear Implantation in Elderly Patients: Surgical and Audiological Outcome

“…The marvel of the vestibular system is its ability, more than other sensory systems, to readjust to changing conditions and environment. Disequilibrium was reported as a frequent minor post-CI complication [1,3,20,21] . However, postoperative vestibular problems in elderly CI recipients should be specially addressed since they may result in decreased quality of life associated with falling.…”

“…However, postoperative vestibular problems in elderly CI recipients should be specially addressed since they may result in decreased quality of life associated with falling. A perilymphatic fistula through the cochleostomy, insertion trauma to the labyrinth and serous labyrinthitis were suspected as the possible causes of postoperative vestibular problems [21] . In the present series, the rate of post-CI vestibular disturbances was relatively high (5 out of 20 patients) despite our efforts to prevent these conditions by sealing of the cochleostomy with pieces of the temporalis fascia and muscle after insertion of the electrode.…”

Surgical and Medical Complications following Cochlear Implantation: Comparison of Two Surgical Approaches

“…Perilymphatic fi stula through the cochleostomy or insertion trauma to the labyrinth are possible causes of postoperative equilibrium problems. Kubo et al [24] divided postoperative vestibular problems into immediate, delayed (occurring 1 1 month after surgery) and continuous (for more than 6 months). Those authors proposed serous labyrinthitis caused by electrode placement in the cochlea as being the possible etiology for delayed vertigo.…”