Surgical considerations and safety of cochlear implantation in otitis media with effusion

Pediatric cochlear implantation in otitis media with effusion: Are ventilation tubes truly necessary?

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the clinical findings of our cochlear implant (CI) patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) and CI patients treated with ventilation tube (VT) for OME.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent CI surgery at Hacettepe University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, between November 1997 and March 2023 were reviewed. Patients who had OME or VT in the implanted ear at the time of surgery were included in the study. Perioperative findings, complication status, revision status, and reasons for revision were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 2945 ears were operated for cochlear implantation during this period. Of these cases, 169 (5.7 %) had OME and 55 (1.86 %) had VT at time of surgery (180 patients). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding demographic parameters and follow-up time. None of the investigated parameters showed any significant differences between the two groups, except for revision status. The revision rate was significantly higher in the OME group than that in the VT group (10.65 % vs. null, p = 0.008). The total non-OME and non-VT patient cohort had a significantly lower revision rates than the OME group (5.29 % vs. 10.65 %, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

There is no significant difference in surgical difficulty and perioperative complications after CI between patients with VT and those with OME. The relationship between a higher rate of revision and OME in CI patients, and the optimal timing and necessity of VT insertion prior to CI surgery, should be further investigated.

Cochlear Implant Infections

Cochlear implants (CIs) are associated with a range of infections. These infections present unique considerations because of their position relative to the respiratory tract and the central nervous system, as well as the propensity for biofilms to form on CIs. This article reviews infections related to CIs, including otitis media, mastoiditis, meningitis, and deep CI infection. High-quality evidence on the prevention and management of CI infections is lacking; however, best practices regarding prevention and management are provided.

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

OBJECTIVE

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

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSION

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.

Management of Already Inserted Ventilation Tubes During Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: To Remove or Leave the Tube?

OBJECTIVE

Ventilation tube (VT) insertion is usually recommended before cochlear implantation (CI) in pediatric cochlear implant candidates with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) or chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). However, there is no consensus on whether the VT is beneficial even after CI, that is, whether the tube should be removed or left in place during CI. This study aimed to assess the effect of tube placement after CI, especially on the incidence of post-CI AOM, in pediatric cochlear implant recipients who had undergone VT insertion before CI because of recurrent AOM or chronic OME.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective medical record review.

SETTING

A tertiary referral cochlear implant center.

PATIENTS

This study recruited 58 consecutive ears of children who underwent VT insertion followed by CI at age 7 years or younger between 2004 and 2021. Before October 2018, we removed the VT simultaneously with CI (removed group, 39 ears), while since then, the tube has remained in place during CI (retained group, 19 ears).

INTERVENTION

Therapeutic.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary outcome was the proportion of ears that developed AOM at post-CI 6 months in the removed and retained groups.

RESULTS

The age at CI was significantly higher in the removed group than in the retained group (mean [standard deviation]: the removed group, 2.9 [1.2] yr; the retained group: 1.5 [0.8] yr; p < 0.001). The removed group showed a significantly higher proportion of ears with post-CI AOM (8 of 39 ears; 20.5%) than the retained group (none of 19 ears; 0%) 6 months after CI ( p = 0.044). The AOM-free proportion at post-CI 12 months was 76.9% in the removed group and 83.3% in the retained group, demonstrating no significant difference ( p = 0.49), probably because the VT was spontaneously extruded in the retained group at a median of 6.5 months after CI. Throughout the study period, 17 ears (13 from the removed group) were affected by post-CI AOM. Of these, three ears in the removed group and two in the retained group after spontaneous extrusion of the VT were hospitalized and treated with intravenous antibiotics for AOM that had failed to respond to oral antibiotic therapy. Only one ear in the removed group required an explanation of the infected implant. None suffered from chronic perforation of the tympanic membrane or secondary cholesteatoma after VT insertion or meningitis associated with post-CI AOM.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that in CI for children who already have a VT because of a recurrent AOM or chronic OME, retaining the tube in position, rather than removing the tube, may decrease the incidence of AOM at least within 6 months after CI, during which most cochlear implant device infection was reported in the pediatric population.

Assessment of the cochlear implant pathway for newborn hearing screening referrals

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cochlear implant (CI) assessment pathway for children referred through the newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP) and identify potential reasons for delay in CI surgery at a large UK centre.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of electronic notes of children referred through NHSP from 2016 to 2019. Key points in the assessment pathway from referral to switch-on were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 46 referrals, 44 went on to have CI surgery. Median age at CI surgery was 15 months (interquartile range (IQR) 13 to 17 months). Only 5% of referrals were implanted before the age of 12 months. Delayed referral and the presence of otitis media with effusion (OME) were associated with delayed implantation. The median period of monitoring for OME was 48 days (IQR 20 to 93 days), with a natural resolution rate of only 11%. The median time from surgery to switch-on was 5 weeks (IQR 4.1 to 5.4 weeks).

CONCLUSION

Achieving implantation prior to the age of 12 months for NHSP referrals can be challenging for a variety of reasons. The delays in the system and the steps that our implant programme has taken to address these will be highlighted.

The safety of posterior tympanotomy in otitis media with effusion during cochlear implantation: clinical retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Posterior tympanotomy (PT) is an important step in cochlear implant (CI) surgery, as it is the main access to the round window. Some CI candidates, especially children, may have concomitant otitis media with effusion (OME) which may result in technical issues during PT. There is still a debate whether to wait for OME resolution preoperatively or to proceed to surgery with suspected difficulties.

AIMS/OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety of PT during CI surgery in patients with OME.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

we included 102 consecutive pediatric candidates in this retrospective study with an age range of 12 months to 6 years. All the patients underwent CI surgery using trans-mastoid, PT to access round window (RW) area. We investigated the effect of the pathology caused by OME on the operative procedure in PT and post-operative consequences.

THE RESULTS

out of 102 patients included in this study, there were 22 patients with OME who had unilateral cochlear implantation with no major operative or post-operative events. Nevertheless, some minor intra operative events and difficulties were encountered.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

The presence of OME in CI surgery indicates possible surgical challenges such as difficult PT, minor intra-operative risks and with no major post-operative events.