Cochlear implantation with suprameatal approach in Chinese children

• Published in: Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery Vol. 43; no. 2; p. 105
• Main Authors: Yin, Shan-Kai, Wang, Lin-E, Wu, Ya-Qin, Chen, Zheng-Nong, Zhang, Jian, Zhou, Wen-Sheng, Zhou, Wei-Dong, Huang, Jia-Yun, Shen, Zhi-Sen, Qiu, Jian-Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.02.2008
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Child; Child, Preschool; Cochlear Implantation - methods; Ear - surgery; Female; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - surgery; Humans; Infant; Male
• ISSN: 1673-0860

To investigate the technique of the suprameatal approach for cochlear implantation in Chinese profound sensory hearing loss children. Suprameatal approach for cochlear implantation were used in 50 cases (total 53 ears) with profound sensory hearing loss from May 2005 to January 2007. The electrode was passed through the suprameatal tunnel and went between the incus and chorda tympani into the scala tympani. Electrodes were completely inserted in 51 ears. There were no postoperative complications in all cases. Although the long effect need to be observed, all cases received better hearing and speech development benefit from cochlear implantation in the follow-up period. Among the 50 cases, 26 had speech perception in the open condition; 18 patients could speak short sentences although not clearly; and 6 patients learned to speak individual words only. The suprameatal approach was found to be a simple and safe technique that does not need mastoidectomy and avoid endangering the facial nerve and the chorda tympa