Intraoperative and long term telemetry changes in cochlear implantation patients

Cochlear implantation is emerging as an effective treatment for individuals with profound sensorineural hearing loss. As the number of users increases worldwide, the frequency of individual electrode failures is also increasing. The effects of these failures on sound quality and comfort can directly affect the quality of life of individuals. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the time-varying impedance measurements of CI users. The secondary objective was to determine the prevalence of intraoperative abnormal electrode findings and their change over time. The study included 333 individuals (358 implants) with Cochlear implants. The impedance telemetry of the participants was evaluated intraoperatively and at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. It was observed that maximum impedance values were reached at the 1st postoperative month and a stable course was observed after the 6th month. At least one electrode failure was detected in 26 (7.2%) of the 358 devices. Of these failures, 22 (84.7%) were open circuit (OC) and 4 (15.3%) were short circuit (SC). All of the OC failures recovered in the first month, while no recovery was observed in SC failures. With the expansion of cochlear implant candidacy criteria, individual electrode failure rates are expected to increase. Regular follow-ups are critical for monitoring patient performance.