COMPLICATIONS OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION IN ADULTS

İzmir Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, İzmir, Turkey The objective of this study was to determine complications of cochlear Implantation in adults. Adult CI patients are reviewed retrospectively. 105 cochlear implant operations in 103 adults, 69 males and 34 females, aged between 21 to 56 years were included to the study. These patients have been operated between 1998 and June 2004. Complications were defined as major complications, those requiring explantation of the device or further operation, causing a significant medical problem, leading to any degree of facial paralysis or require additional hospitalization for treatment, or minor complications, those settled spontaneously, with conservative treatment, local care and/or with medication alone. There were 14 (13.33%) minor complications and 4 (3.8%) major complications. The most frequented minor complication was postoperative head pain (4.76%). It is followed by Dizzines, vomiting and vertigo 3 (2.8%), Wound infection 1 (0.9%), nistagmus 1 (0.9%), seroma 1 (0.9%), rhinoliquore 1 (0.9%), tast disturbances1 (0.9%) and hypertension1 (0.9%). The most frequented major complication was facial nerve paresis or paralysis 2 (1.9%) followed by per-op profuse bleeding 1 (0.9%) and failure to implant 1 (0.9%). There were not any life threating complications in any of our implanted adults. This study confirms that cochlear implantation in adults is relatively safe and that major complications are few and within acceptable limits. Keywords : Cochlear implantation, complication, adult