Favorable Long-Term Functional Outcomes and Safety of Auditory Brainstem Implants in Nontumor Patients. Issue 6 (31st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jung, Na Young; Kim, Minsoo; Chang, Won Seok; Jung, Hyun Ho; Choi, Jae Young; Chang, Jin Woo
• Is Part Of: Operative neurosurgery. Volume 13:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 653
• Page End: 660
• Publication Date: 2017-03-31
• Subjects: Auditory brainstem implant -- Cochlear nucleus -- Deafness -- Sensorineural hearing loss; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.480590
• DOI: 10.1093/ons/opx046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2332-4252

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) were designed to restore hearing in deaf patients with auditory tumors or those unable to receive cochlear implants. Although ABIs may help some patients, their long-term outcomes have been rarely studied. OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term benefits and safety of ABIs in nontumor patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the histories of 15 deaf patients (8 females, 7 males; mean age, 15.5 yr; range, 1-56 yr) who received ABIs for treatment of SNHL at our hospital from July 2008 to November 2015. These included 11 children with narrow internal auditory canals and 4 deaf adults with severe cochlear ossification. In each patient, a 12-channel ABI electrode was placed in the cochlear nucleus complex via a retrosigmoid approach. Auditory performance was evaluated using the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) index and sound detection and word identification tests. RESULTS: One year after ABI placement, 13 of 15 patients showed adequate or significantly improved auditory function based on the CAP scores at the last follow-up. Generally, adult patients tended to show better CAP scores (3.50) than pediatric patients (2.15), but the difference was not significant ( P = .058). Postoperative complications included electrode migration, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, nonauditory stimulation, and minor seizures without severe sequelae or mortality. CONCLUSION: ABIs show favorable functional outcomes and long-term safety in nontumor deaf patients with limited treatment options. Collectively, our data indicate that ABIs represent an important treatment option for SNHL.