Failure rate in pediatric cochlear implantation and hearing results following revision surgery.

INTRODUCTION

In a discussion of the risks and benefits of pediatric cochlear implantation, device failure and the need for revision surgery is often overlooked. The failure rate has not been investigated extensively for this population of patients. Hearing results are under-reported following revision surgery as well. We will review our experience with cochlear implant failure, revision, and hearing results when available to better guide the preoperative counseling of families considering cochlear implantation.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of all children undergoing cochlear implantation from 2004 to 2014.

RESULTS

In this review of 579 cases of pediatric cochlear implantation, a 4.7% device failure rate was identified. Additionally, there was a 0.3% device infection rate, as well as a 0.3% electrode extrusion rate. 10 patients had audiometric data prior to and following revision surgery. These data demonstrate similar pre-failure and post revision surgery pure tone average.

CONCLUSION

Cochlear implant device failure is the most common long-term complication of surgery; fortunately, hearing outcomes following revision surgery, evaluated with pure tone average, revealed no decline in auditory performance.