Cochlear Implantation

POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:�@

Infection can develop following surgery with associated pain, fever, or drainage. This may require antibiotics, reopening the wound, or removal of the device to treat the infection. Rarely, the infection may spread to the inner ear, causing hearing loss, or to other structures. Fortunately, brain infections as a consequence of the ear infection occur extremely rarely now due to the use of antibiotics.

Bleeding may result from any surgical procedure causing a collection of blood in the tissue. Occasionally, this collection must be removed to prevent infection and to speed healing.

Anesthesia Risk is minimal for healthy patients. The risks will be discussed with you by the anesthesiologist.

Taste Changes after surgery are not uncommon and are usually transient. Prolonged symptoms occasionally occur.

Facial Paralysis rarely occurs after surgery. The majority of the time, the weakness is temporary and improves over weeks or months. Very rarely, the nerve may br injured during the procedure requiring further treatment. Very occasionally, facial stimulation occurs with use of a portion of the electrodes. Adjustment of stimulation pattern almost always alleviates the problem.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak  (leakage of fluid from around the brain) is an extremely rare complication of mastoid surgery that may require reoperation for repair.

Device Failure or Displacement rarely occurs but is possible. Very occasionally, some patients may not receive sound stimulation from the device. The electrode array and the microprocessor have failed in some patients. Replacement or repositioning of the device may be necessary.

Implanted Electrodes/Magnets are necessary for normal functioning of the device. Magnetic resonance imaging (which uses a strong magnet to produce an image of body structures similar to an x-ray) must be avoided while the device is in place. Avoidance of situations where large amounts of static electricity are produced is encouraged (such as sliding down plastic slides).

Loss of Residual Hearing as measured with standard hearing tests usually occurs with device insertion. The device's purpose is to improve and take the place of the residual hearing.

Risk of Electrical Stimulation of the cochlear(hearing) nerve and consequently the brain has been proven safe in adult patients since 1971 and in children since 1983. Extremely long-term results will not be known until patients have used implants for may decades.