The latest medical research on Otolaryngology

The research magnet gathers the latest research from around the web, based on your specialty area. Below you will find a sample of some of the most recent articles from reputable medical journals about otolaryngology gathered by our medical AI research bot.

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Pure endoscopic transcanal revision cochlear implantation for a misplaced electrode array: A novel and minimally invasive approach.

Cochlear Implants International

Misplacement of the CI electrode array is one of the rarest complications of cochlear implant surgery. This condition can be noticed intraoperatively and diagnosed radiologically in the early postoperative period. To present a novel and minimally invasive revision approach for a misplaced cochlear implant (CI) electrode array.

In this case report, the authors present a previously undescribed alternative minimally invasive revision cochlear implantation approach for a patient with a misplaced CI electrode array in the right ear who underwent bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation one and a half years ago at another center.

To correct CI electrode array misplacement, the endoscopic transcanal approach is a safe and effective alternative to the conventional approach.

Salvage of the cochlear implant in cases of skin breakdown over the receiver/stimulator in children.

Cochlear Implants International

Skin breakdown over receiver/stimulator (RS) after cochlear implantation poses a serious challenge. We report our experience using a one-stage reconstruction and implant salvage approach.

Between the years 2005 and 2017 five children, all females, with congenital- bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were identified. In all cases, a temporoparietal fascia flap (TPFF) and a large scalp flap were used to provide a two-layer coverage to the exposed RS. In the first three cases, a split-thickness skin graft was used to cover the donor site defect. In the latter two cases, a larger rotation flap was used, and a skin graft was not required. One case required revision due to the dehiscence of the wound and exposure of the RS. In another case, an accidental electrode array explantation occurred and the patient underwent a revision cochlear implantation. All patients had achieved complete healing and no change in hearing thresholds with the implants.

We demonstrate our one-stage salvage technique with TPFF that saves the implant and prevents a two-stage procedure. The success rate can be improved with special care at reconstruction and with better protection of the implant during the procedure.

Migration and other electrode complications following cochlear implantation.

Cochlear Implants International

To investigate migration and other electrode-related complications in cochlear implant surgery.

Retrospective review of all patients (adult and paediatric) undergoing cochlear implantation at a tertiary referral centre in England, between April 2019 and December 2021. Split arrays and patients who did not have post-op imaging were excluded.

Two hundred and ninety-nine cochlear implants were performed including 90% primary and 10% revision surgeries. Two hundred and forty-eight (86%) of electrodes implanted were straight arrays.Twenty-seven (9%) demonstrated suboptimal position on post-operative imaging. Three (11%) were true migration, 4 (15%) possible migration, 15 (56%) had two or less extra-cochlear electrodes, 3 (11%) expected partial insertion and 2 (7%) demonstrated tip fold-overs. Twenty (74%) of arrays within the suboptimal insertion group were in primary surgeries. Six patients required re-implantation. The most common reason for re-implantation was migration.

Electrode migration after cochlear implantation may be more common than previously thought. We demonstrate rates of migration congruous with current literature; this is despite robust and varied fixation techniques. Notable in our series is that all true captured migrations were seen exclusively in straight arrays. The majority of patients in the possible and confirmed migration group had normal inner ear anatomy.

Suboptimal electrode position following cochlear implant surgery is a recognized complication and can affect implant performance. Reporting may increase with more widespread use of sophisticated post-operative imaging. Use of a pre-curved electrode and routine use of appropriate fixation techniques may reduce migration rates.

Cochlear-facial dehiscence - the most common cause of facial nerve stimulation from a cochlear implant? A case-control study.

Cochlear Implants International

To investigate the prevalence of cochlear-facial dehiscence (CFD) and other radiographical pathologies in ears with facial nerve stimulation (FNS) from a cochlear implant (CI).

Retrospective case-control study of 27 patients with CI and FNS on either ear (study group) and 27 patients without FNS, matched for age, sex and type of electrode array (control group). Preoperative CT scans of all 108 ears were re-evaluated. Subanalyses included comparisons between the study and control groups and associations between FNS and radiographic pathologies.

CFDs were detected in 20 of 54 ears (37%) in the study group and in 3 of 54 ears (6%) in the control group (P < 0.001). The corresponding numbers of otosclerosis were 10 (18%) and 0 (P = 0.011) and of developmental anomalies 16 (30%) and 8 (15%) (not significant). FNS was present in 33 ears in the study group, of which 14 (42%) had a CFD. FNS was absent in six ears with CFD and CI, four of which contralateral to an ear with FNS. Eight of 14 ears with FNS and CFD had a lateral electrode array and six had a perimodiolar electrode array. We found no association between the presence of CFD and stimulation thresholds for FNS. The adjusted odds ratio for developing FNS in the presence of a CFD was 9.9 (95% CI 2.7-36.0).

CFD was the most common radiographic pathology in ears with FNS, with a 10-fold increased risk of FNS. To avoid CI-related FNS, preoperative CT scan and awareness of typical dehiscence symptoms are strongly recommended.

Factors that influence performance in pediatric cochlear implant recipients with cochlear nerve deficiency.

Cochlear Implants International

Children with cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) have wide variability in outcomes with cochlear implant (CI) use. The current study aims to report a large cohort of pediatric CI recipients with CND and to evaluate for factors that may predict improved performance.

The current study is a retrospective review of pediatric CI recipients with CND at a tertiary academic hospital. Variables including cochlear nerve status (hypoplasia vs aplasia), age at implantation, cochleovestibular malformation, bony cochlear nerve aperture, internal auditory canal aperture, and cognitive delay were evaluated for predictors of postoperative performance. A stepwise multinomial regression analysis was performed.

Forty-seven CI recipients (54 ears) were included in the analysis. A majority (59%) showed auditory capabilities with their CI. Twenty percent of recipients achieved some level of open-set speech perception with their CI. The regression analysis identified cochlear nerve status and cognitive delay as predictors of performance. CI recipients with cochlear nerve hypoplasia had significantly improved performance compared to those with aplasia (p = 0.003). Recipients with cognitive delay had more limited benefit than those without cognitive delay (p = 0.033).

Children with CND can benefit from CI use, with outcomes spanning from non-use to development of spoken language. Predictive factors for improved performance include a lack of cognitive delay and cochlear hypoplasia rather than aplasia. These can be important considerations for parent counseling and decision making.

Intraoperative and postoperative findings in children with myringotomy tubes (MT) undergoing cochlear implantation (CI).

Cochlear Implants International

To evaluate and compare children undergoing cochlear implantation (CI) with myringotomy tubes (MT) placed preoperatively or intraoperatively to those without MT .

This was a retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing CI between 2015 to 2020 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. CI patients with and without MT were reviewed for the following outcomes: intraoperative findings, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and surgical time. Descriptive and bivariable statistical analysis was performed.

192 cochlear implant surgeries were included: 116 without MT tubes and 76 with a history of MT. Twenty-six patients had MT present at the time of CI surgery. No statistical difference existed between patients with MT (CI + MT group) and those without MT (CI - MT group) with regard to intraoperative complications (P = 0.760) and intraoperative findings (P = 0.545). MT association with total post-operative complications (GEE) showed no statistical significance (OR 2.45, 95% CI 0.83-7.22, P-value 0.105). CI + MT patients were significantly more likely to have inflamed middle ear mucosa at time of surgery (P = 0.003). CI + MT patients did not have a longer length of surgery compared to the CI - MT group (3.47 h vs 3.3 h, respectively, P = 0.342).

Our data confirms it is safe to perform CI in ears with myringotomy tubes, although the surgeon should be aware of possibly encountering increased middle ear inflammation during the surgery.

The validity and reliability of Turkish version of the children's home inventory for listening difficulties - (C.H.I.L.D) questionnaire.

Cochlear Implants International

This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties - (C.H.I.L.D) questionnaire.

The study included 121 children with cochlear implants and their families aged 3-12 years and 171 children with normal hearing and their families. Confirmatory factor analysis (C.F.A.) was used to assess construct validity, Cronbach's alpha was used to analyze internal consistency and test-retest reliability was also investigated.

The reliability coefficients of the entire C.H.I.L.D family member (C.H.I.L.D-FM) and children version (C.H.I.L.D-C) were 0.983, 0.978, and Cronbach's coefficients were 0.992, 0.992, and the corrected item-total correlations increased from 0.989 to 0.994 and from 0.988 to 0.994, respectively. The scale's construct validity was excellent, according to the CFA analyses. The goodness-of-fit indexes (for the parent's version 0.892 and for the child's version 0.867) demonstrated a good fit for the single-factor construct, with only the normed fit index revealing an acceptable fit.

The Turkish version of the C.H.I.L.D is a reliable and valid evaluation test for children and their family members.

Voice acoustic characteristics of children with late-onset cochlear implantation: Correlation to auditory performance.

Cochlear Implants International

To study the voice acoustic parameters of congenitally deaf children with delayed access to sounds due to late-onset cochlear implantation and to correlate their voice characteristics with their auditory performance.

The study included 84 children: a control group consisting of 50 children with normal hearing and normal speech development; and a study group consisting of 34 paediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients who had suffered profound hearing loss since birth. According to speech recognition scores and pure-tone thresholds, the study group was further subdivided into two subgroups: 24 children with excellent auditory performance and 10 children with fair auditory performance. The mean age at the time of implantation was 3.6 years for excellent auditory performance group and 3.2 years for fair auditory performance group. Voice acoustic analysis was conducted on all study participants.

Analysis of voice acoustic parameters revealed a statistically significant delay in both study groups in comparison to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two study groups.

Interestingly, in both excellent and fair performance study groups, the gap in comparison to normal hearing children was still present. While late-implanted children performed better on segmental perception (e.g. word recognition), suprasegmental perception (e.g. as demonstrated by objective acoustic voice analysis) did not progress to the same extent.

On the suprasegmental speech performance level, objective acoustic voice measurements demonstrated a significant delay in the suprasegmental speech performance of children with late-onset CI, even those with excellent auditory performance.

Temporal bone histopathology in revision cochlear implantation.

Cochlear Implants International

An increasing number of young infants, as early as six months of age with congenital hearing loss receive cochlear implantation, and it is probable...

Early activation of cochlear implants: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Cochlear Implants International

Device activation typically occurs four weeks post cochlear implant surgery. Emerging evidence suggests earlier activation is feasible and beneficial, giving patients quicker access to sound and rehabilitation.

Assess current literature for effects of early cochlear implant activation.

Electronic searches of Medline/PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library following PRISMA guidelines. Studies investigating any aspect of early activation were included for review.

From 15 studies, 625 patients received early activation, compared with 243 patients in the control groups. Early activation was considered as within 7 days post-operatively with 12 studies reporting within 1 day post-operatively, compared with standard activation of 9-46 days post-operatively in the control group. Some studies indicated earlier low levels of impedance in the early activation group. Magnet strength adjustment or off-ear processor wear was often recommended within the early activation cohort. Complication rates were low in both groups. Early activation improved patient satisfaction and anxiety levels without detriment to speech recognition or rehabilitation.

Early cochlear implant activation is feasible and allows patients with no contraindications, earlier access to auditory perception and rehabilitation and reduces anxiety linked to delay in activation. Further evidence is required to monitor long-term effects of early activation.

The association between electrode impedance and short-term outcomes in cochlear implant recipients of slim modiolar and slim straight electrode arrays.

Cochlear Implants International

Electrode impedance measurements from cochlear implants (CI) reflect the status of the electrode array as well as the surrounding cochlear environment, and could provide a clinical index of functional changes with the CI. The goals of this study were to examine (1) the impact of electrode array type on electrode impedance, and (2) the relationship between electrode impedance and short-term hearing preservation and speech recognition outcomes.

Retrospective study of 115 adult hearing preservation CI recipients of a slim modiolar or slim straight array. Common ground electrode impedances, pre- and post-operative hearing thresholds and CNC word recognition scores were retrieved.

Electrode impedances were significantly higher for recipients of the straight electrode array. Within individuals, electrode impedances were stable after the first week post-activation. However, increased standard deviation of electrode impedances was associated with greater loss of low frequency hearing at initial activation, and with poorer speech recognition at 6 months post-implantation.

Results demonstrate that electrode impedances depend on the type of implanted array. Findings also suggest that there may be a role for the variability in electrode impedance across electrodes as an indicator of changes in the intracochlear environment that contribute to outcomes with a CI.

Caloric function as a predictor of cochlear implant performance.

Cochlear Implants International

Changes in vestibular function have been demonstrated following cochlear implantation (CI). The functional impact of these changes on CI performance has not been well-studied. We sought to assess whether caloric changes postimplantation could predict CI performance.

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database at a tertiary care hospital. Patients who underwent CI over a 22-year period (1999-2021) and had videonystagmography (VNG) testing pre- and postimplantation were included. Caloric responses were compared pre- versus post-implantation, and assessed for their ability to predict CI performance as evaluated using AzBio +10 decibels signal-to-noise ratio (dB S/N) scores.

43 CI recipients were included. There was a significant difference in the average maximal slow-phase velocity in response to caloric irrigation in the implanted ear pre- versus post-operatively (21.2 vs. 18.5 deg/s; p = 0.02). Controlling for age and pre-implantation speech recognition performance, pre- and post-implantation caloric responses in the implanted ear significantly predicted CI performance at 0-6 months and >6 months post-implantation. Caloric changes following implantation were not significantly correlated with CI performance.

CI impacts vestibular function as evidenced by changes in caloric responses. Vestibular function pre- and possibly post-CI may be clinically useful metrics for predicting some proportion of CI performance variability.