BACKGROUND The number of cochlear implant (CI) recipients is increasing so there needs to be greater awareness of possible CI complications. OBJECTIVES Describe complications of CI. DESIGN Retrospective, descriptional. SETTINGS Tertiary health care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data was collected by retrospective chart review on complications for recipients implanted for the period from January 2006 to June 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Major and minor post cochlear implantation complications. SAMPLE SIZE 1027 cochlear implant recipients. RESULTS Post-operative complications were reported in 105 patients (10.2%). Minor complications were most often encountered (9.5%). Swelling (wound seroma or hematoma) was the most common complication. The major complication rate was only 7/105, 0.7%. Meningitis did not occur and cholesteatoma occurred in only one patient. CONCLUSION CI is a safe surgical procedure at our center. We believe that this is probably due to the preoperative protocol, the surgical technique used, and the postoperative care conducted for all our patients. Despite this, it is important that both physicians and patients have knowledge of the possible consequences and risks posed by CI, especially in view of the fact that these patients require lifetime follow-up. LIMITATIONS Further studies are needed, and should include more ENT centers across all regions of Saudi Arabia.

No abstract

Objectives:To determine the prevalence of inner ear anomalies and the frequency of different anomaly types among cochlear implant recipients.Methods:This study included a retrospective chart review of all patients who received cochlear implants between January 2009 and January 2013 in King Abdulaziz University Hospital cochlear implant program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All subjects underwent thin-cut CT of the temporal bone and MRI. The collected data included age, gender, and CT and MRI findings regarding temporal bone anomalies. Patients with any identified congenital inner ear anomalies were included in the study.Results:In total, 316 patients’ cases were reviewed. Inner ear malformations were identified in 24 patients, which represented a prevalence of 7.5%. Among these 24 patients, 8 (33.3%) presented with a large vestibular aqueduct (LVA), 8 (33.3%) semicircular canal (SCC) dysplasia, 7 (29.1%) classical Mondini deformity, and one (4.1%) cochlear hypoplasia.Conclusion:The prevalence of inner ear anomalies among cochlear implant recipients was 7.5%. This result is consistent with findings worldwide. The most common anomalies were LVA and SCC hypoplasia; by contrast, in other regions, the most common anomaly is either the Mondini deformity, or LVA.