Incidence of Early Complications of Cochlear Implants

Background: Cochlear implantation is an operation by which the cochlear implant (CI) device is inserted in the cochlea to stimulate electrically the Auditory nerve through its nerve ending in the cochlea. This procedure may be accompanied by some major or minor complications, and as the number of cochlear implantations has increased dramatically during the last decade, it is important to be aware of the potential complications and their management. Objective: The objective is to detect the incidence of early complications of CI in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital. Patients and Methods A descriptive study of (173) patients had implantation in the Department of Otolaryngology in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital/Baghdad through a period of 12 months starting from April 2021 to ending in April 2022. Preoperative assessments were done so that all patients were fit to do the operation; all of these patients have been followed up for 1 month for early detection of complications that classified as major and minor types. Results: There were (96) females and (77) males Patients, the age at implantation for these patients was ranging from 1 to 50 years, the mean age ± standard deviation = (4.95 ± 5.92). The overall rate of complications was 8.7 (15 of 173), with minor complications accounting for 6.9 and including; (unsteadiness 2.9, facial swelling/forehead skin abrasion 1.1, wound dehiscence 1.1, hematoma 0.6, seroma 0.6, and simple wound infection 0.6), these complications were treated conservatively by medical measures or by a minor surgical procedures. Major complications accounting for 1.8 which were; (wound infection that end with flap necrosis 0.6, biofilm infection 0.6, and facial nerve palsy 0.6). Conclusions: CI is a safe technique with a relatively low complication rate. Most of these complications are minor which can be managed with conservative measures or minimal intervention. Skin flap complications range from minor wound infection to wound dehiscence, wound swelling and flap necrosis; this emphasizes the need for careful and delicate manipulation of tissues to avoid such complications. Pay further attention to strict sterilization and strategy regarding disposable towels and surgical kits is needed. Keywords: Biofilm infection, cochlear implant, facial nerve palsy