Intraoperative Difficulties and Postoperative Complications Associated With Cochlear Implantations: A Study From Erbil City.

Background and objective Cochlear implants are highly effective for the treatment of severe to profound hearing loss. Cochlear implant surgery is a safe surgical procedure; however, due to many modifications over the years, it has been associated with certain minor and major complications. This study aimed to examine the intraoperative difficulties and postoperative complications in patients who received cochlear implants in Erbil City. Methods We conducted a retrospective descriptive study regarding complications of cochlear implants involving patients who received unilateral or bilateral cochlear Implants at the Rizgary Teaching Hospital and a private hospital in Erbil City from January 2013 to July 2022. Their medical records were analyzed, and data on demographics, intraoperative difficulties, and postoperative complications were gathered. Results A total of 160 patients with cochlear implants (87 male, 54.4%; 73 female, 45.6%) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 6.76 ± 8.02 years (range: 1-53 years); 150 of these patients were children and 10 were adults (18 years and above). Intraoperative difficulties occurred in five patients (3.1%). The overall rate of complication was 10%, 7.5% of which was minor (the most common being wound infection) and 2.5% major (the most frequent being device extrusion). Conclusions Cochlear implant surgery is a safe procedure performed to treat profoundly deaf patients. It is associated with a low rate of complications, most of which can be successfully managed with conservative measures or minimal intervention.