Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation in children aged 12‒18 months is safe and can be performed using standard cochlear implant surgical techniques

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation is often seen as the gold-standard intervention for many people with bilateral deafness. However, this intervention is not as commonly performed in China. This paper presents the surgical technique and the peri- and postoperative safety results from simultaneous bilateral implantation and compares them with those from sequential bilateral implantation.

Methods

Twenty nine children (aged 12‒18 months) met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and took part in this study. 10 participants received a unilateral cochlear implantation; 19 participants received simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation. The same standard surgical technique (transmastoid facial recess approach with round window insertion) was used in all implantations. Safety was assessed via monitoring peri- and postoperative adverse events. The helpfulness of select surgical tools was assessed via questionnaire.

Results

No adverse events were reported for any participants. All queried surgical tools were helpful in all 244 recorded responses.

Conclusion

Simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation can be performed using the same surgical technique as unilateral implantation and poses no increased safety risk for children aged 1‒2 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wilson BS, Dorman MF (2018) Cochlear implants: a remarkable past and a brilliant future. Hear Res 242:3–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Peters BR, Wyss J, Manrique M (2010) Worldwide trends in bilateral cochlear implantation. Laryngoscope 120(Suppl 2):S17–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rak K, Völker J, Schendzielorz P, Shehata-Dieler W, Radeloff A, Hagen R (2019) Bilateral cochlear implantation is regarded as very beneficial: results from a worldwide survey by online questionnaire. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 276:679–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Eapen RJ, Buchman CA (2009) Bilateral cochlear implantation: current concepts. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 17:351–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dorman MF, Gifford RH (2017) Speech understanding in complex listening environments by listeners fit with cochlear implants. J Speech Lang Hear Res 60:3019–3026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. von Schoonhoven J, Sparreboom M, van Zanten BG et al (2013) The effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implants for severe-to-profound deafness in adults: a systematic review. Otol Neurotol 34:190–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. von Zon A, Smulders YE, Stegeman I et al (2017) Stable benefits of bilateral over unilateral cochlear implantation after 2 years: a randomized controlled trial. Laryngoscope 127:1161–1168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bichey BG, Miyamoto RT (2008) Outcomes in bilateral cochlear implantation. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 138:655–661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Nahm EA, Liberatos P, Shi Q, Lai E, Kim AH (2017) Quality of life after sequential bilateral cochlear implantation. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 156:334–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McRackan TR, Hand BN, Velozo CA, Dubino JR (2019) Association of demographic and hearing-related factors with cochlear implant–related quality of life. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 145:422–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Papsin BC, Gordon KA (2008) Bilateral cochlear implants should be the standard for children with bilateral sensorineural deafness. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 16:67–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ramsden JD, Papsin BC, Leung R, James A, Gordon KA (2009) Bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation in children: our first 50 cases. Laryngoscope 119:2444–2448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Uecker FC, Szczepek A, Olze H (2019) Pediatric bilateral cochlear implantation: simultaneous versus sequential surgery. Otol Neurotol 40:e454–e460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ramsden JD, Gordon K, Aschendorff A et al (2012) European bilateral pediatric cochlear implant forum consensus statement. Otol Neurotol 33:561–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. British Cochlear Implant Group (2018) Quality Standards: Cochlear implant services for children and adults. https://www.bcig.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/QS-update-2018-PDF-final.pdf) Accessed 6 May 2019.

  16. Li JN, Chen S, Zhai L et al (2017) The advances in hearing rehabilitation and cochlear implants in China. Ear Hear 38:647–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Long Y, Liu H, Li Y et al (2018) Early auditory skills development in Mandarin speaking children after bilateral cochlear implantation. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 114:153–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. van Hasselt A, Sung JK, Tong MC (2019) Overcoming developing world challenges of cochlear implantation: Chinese perspective. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 27:193–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gantz BJ, Tyler TS, Rubenstein JT et al (2002) Binaural cochlear implants placed in the same operation. Otol Neurotol 23:169–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Migirov L, Kronenberg J (2009) Bilateral, simultaneous cochlear implantation in children: surgical considerations. J Laryngol Otol 123:837–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Franchella S, Bovo R, Bandolin L et al (2018) Surgical timing for bilateral simultaneous cochlear implants: When is best? Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 109:54–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Shi Y, Li Y, Gong Y, Chen B, Chen J (2019) Cochlear implants for patients with inner ear malformation: Experience in a cohort of 877 surgeries. Clinn Otolaryngol 44:702–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Dhondt CMC, Swinnen FKR, Dhooge IJM (2018) Bilateral cochlear implantation or bimodal listening in the paediatric population: retrospective analysis of decisive criteria. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 104:170–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Farhood Z, Nguyen SA, Miller SC et al (2017) Cochlear implantation in inner ear malformations : systematic review of speech perception outcomes and intraoperative findings. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 156:783–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Saikawa E, Takano K, Ogasawara N, Tsubomatsu C, Takahashi N, Shirasaki H, Himi T (2016) Cochlear implantation in children with cochlear malformation. Adv Otorhinolaryngol 77:7–11

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was designed by MED-EL. Laura Kerr and Michael Todd (both of MED-EL) wrote the original draft of this manuscript; Richard Zniva (MED-EL) assisted with data management; and Edda Amann (MED-EL) assisted with statistics.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China

    Zhiqiang Gao, Suju Wang, Hua Yang, Guodong Feng, Yingying Shang, Bin Wang, Xu Tian, Ying Li & Xingmei Wei

  2. MED-EL Hearing Implant Technology Service Beijing Co., Ltd, Beijing, China

    Zhi Shu

Authors
  1. Zhiqiang Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Suju Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hua Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guodong Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yingying Shang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xu Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ying Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Xingmei Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Zhi Shu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhiqiang Gao.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

MED-EL designed this study and supported it financially by providing 20 cochlear implants and the respective accessories for all bilateral implantations.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted (Ethics Committee at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College Hospital; ZS-1208; 29 Nov. 2016).

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gao, Z., Wang, S., Yang, H. et al. Simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation in children aged 12‒18 months is safe and can be performed using standard cochlear implant surgical techniques. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2193–2197 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05928-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05928-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation