In most cases, cochlear implantation is a straightforward procedure. Nevertheless, there are clinical situations in which the presence of the middle ear may compromise access and/or the outcome in terms of complications. This article includes a series of patients for whom we eliminated the middle ear to facilitate placement of the electrode array of the implant and/or reduce potential complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The purpose of this study was to review the indications for subtotal petrosectomy for cochlear implantation, report our management of complications, as well as review those technical factors that are critical for successful implantation.
Methods: Patients (n = 104) that underwent subtotal petrosectomy with closure of the external auditory canal and obliteration of the cavity with abdominal fat in combination with cochlear implantation were analyzed.
Results: The most frequent indication for subtotal petrosectomy was the existence of a previous canal wall down technique.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cochlear implant (CI) performances in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients with bilateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) and in patients with sporadic VS in the only or better hearing ear. All patients with bilateral VS or sporadic VS in the only or better hearing ear who underwent cochlear implantation, either simultaneous to VS surgery or staged after treatment for VS, in the tumor side were chosen for the study. Postimplantation audiometric scores (sound detection, closed-set and open-set discrimination scores) and device use patterns were the main outcome measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutations inactivating the potassium channel KCNQ4 (K(v)7.4) lead to deafness in humans and mice. In addition to its expression in mechanosensitive hair cells of the inner ear, KCNQ4 is found in the auditory pathway and in trigeminal nuclei that convey somatosensory information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutations in the potassium channel gene KCNQ4 underlie DFNA2, a subtype of autosomal dominant progressive, high-frequency hearing loss. Based on a phenotype-guided mutational screening we have identified a novel mutation c.886G>A, leading to the p.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe terrorist attack on 11 March caused a high percentage of patients with ear injuries. Shock waves provoke alterations to the external ear as well as to the middle and inner ear. The most frequent lesion is tympanic membrane perforation.
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