Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
As with all operations, there are risks with this surgery. These include:
- infection at the incision site
- bleeding
- complications related to anesthesia
- transient dizziness
- facial paralysis (rarely)
- temporary...
taste disturbances - additional hearing loss
- device failure
However, it should be noted that serious surgical complications have been observed at only one in 10,000 procedures of this type.
Some long-term risks of the implant include the unknown effects of electrical stimulation on the nervous system. It is also possible to damage the implant's internal components by a blow to the head, which will render the device unworkable.
A further consideration is that the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients with cochlear implants is not recommended because of the magnets present in the devices. Several companies have developed implants that do not use magnets or have altered the receiver-stimulator make up to make it easier to remove the magnets before testing. One fact that reduces the concern about MRI testing is that for many medical indications, MRI can be replaced with a computer assisted tomography scan (CAT or CT scan), which is not a problem for persons with cochlear implants.
Additionally, in July 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about a possible connection between increased incidence of meningitis and the presence of a cochlear implant. This warning included special vaccine recommendations for those with implants, as well as the voluntary removal from the market of certain devices. Specifically, those implants that included a positioner to hold the electrodes in place in the cochlea appear to be associated with an increased risk of the disease.
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This animation not only shows how the ear detects sound waves and converts those waves into nerve signals, but it also shows how cochlear implants work and allow patients with nerve deafness to hear.
A cochlear implant has a microphone outside the ear that transmits sounds to an implanted receiver. In turn, the receiver transmits electrical impulses to the cochlea and cochlear nerve, which is stimulated in normal hearing. (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
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Other Information
A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. The cochlear implant is often referred to as a bionic ear. Unlike hearing aids, the cochlear implant does not amplify sound, but works by directly stimulating any functioning auditory nerves inside the cochlea with electric field stimulated through an electric impulse. External components of the cochlear implant include a microphone, speech processor and an RF transmitter. Similarly an RF receiver is implanted beneath the skull's skin. The transmitter has a piece of magnet by which it attaches to another magnet placed beside the receiver. When the receiver gets a signal, it will be transmitted to the implanted electrodes in the cochlea. The speech processor allows an individual to adjust the sound level of sensitivity.
Other Information
In 2006, more than 50% of all physician office visits were for ears, nose throat, and related structures of the head and neck problems.
From: ENT Associate
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