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Cochlear
implantation (CI) has been established as a safe and effective method of
rehabilitation of the profoundly hearing-impaired patients, who derive
insufficient benefit from traditional amplification. The purpose of this
report is to share our experience with intracochlear multichannel
devices, describe the rationale of our surgical approach, report on the
problems and complications encountered in establishing CI program and
discuss our viewpoint with suggestions. Sixty-seven patients (40 women
[60%] and 27 men [40%]) with an average age of 21.8 years (range, 1.5 to
67 years) have been implanted between November 1995 and August 2000. The
patients consisted of 30 infants (average age 6.7 years, range 1.5 to 14
years; 20 female and 10 ale patients) and 37 adults (average age 34
years, range 15 to 67 years; 20 female and 17 male patients). We
performed CI in patients with cochlear ossification (n=5) and cochlear
otosclerosis (n=4). We experienced the implantation in patients with
high risk of complications (Wegener's granulomatosis, Usher's syndrome,
chronic renal failure, chronic otitis media and Mondini's deformity).
Complications were detected during the follow-up period, the majority of
which where minor and self-limiting, or amenable to medical therapy.
Cochlear implant makes a very perceptible improvement in patient's
quality of life. Further research and development in surgery and
hardware is a dynamic form of rehabilitation for the deaf.
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