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A novel coupling quality index to estimate the coupling efficiency in Vibrant Soundbridge

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

Abstract

Background

The objective-based methods for intraoperative monitoring have been suggested to assess the coupling and the outcomes of Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB). Although several techniques were proposed, they have not been widely adopted due to their complexity and invasiveness.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of a new coupling quality index using an intraoperative ABR threshold via AcoustiAP and its correlation with the perioperative measures.

Methods

This is a prospective study conducted at a tertiary center. The medical records were retrieved for all patients who underwent VSB implantation and had an intraoperative objective assessment for the coupling efficiency. AcoustiAP was used to evaluate the intraoperative ABR thresholds, which were assessed directly after the floating mass transducer (FMT) placement using acoustic CE-Chirp signals. The Vibrogram was used for the postoperative audiological evaluation. A new coupling quality index was calculated based on the intraoperative ABR thresholds.

Results

Ten patients were eligible for the present study. The ABR thresholds for good coupling ranged from 35 to 60 dBnHL. The loose coupling thresholds ranged considerably from 40 to 100 dBnHL. Overall, the median intraoperative ABR threshold at good coupling was 42.5 (40–60) dBnHL and 60 (40–100) dBnHL at loose coupling. The analysis showed that there was a significant change in the coupling quality index at the good and loose coupling points (24.3 ± 14 vs 38.8 ± 18.2, respectively, p < 0.001). At a cut-off value of 22.6 dB, the coupling quality index had a sensitivity of 70%  and specificity of 90% for discriminating good and loose coupling.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the utility of intraoperative ABR measurements in predicting the coupling efficiency in patients with VSB. Our results showed that the coupling quality index had an acceptable accuracy in discriminating between good and poor coupling, which can help clinicians optimize the fitting process for individuals and may ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes.

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Data availability

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Asma Alahmadi and Medhat Yousef have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center (KAESC), College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), King Saud University, P.O. Box: 245, 11411, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Asma Alahmadi & Farid Alzhrani

  2. Audio Vestibular Medicine Unit, ENT Department, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt

    Medhat Yousef

  3. Vibrant Department, MED-EL GmbH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Anas Ibrahim

  4. Audiology unit, ENT department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Nourah Shahadah

  5. Electrophysiology Department, MED-EL GmbH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed Hafez

  6. Research Department, MED-EL GmbH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Yassin Abdelsamad

  7. Consultant Audio Vestibular Physician, King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center (KAESC), College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Medhat Yousef

Authors
  1. Asma Alahmadi
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  2. Medhat Yousef
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  7. Farid Alzhrani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asma Alahmadi.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest, and the work was not supported or funded by any organization.

Ethical approval

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the local institutional review board (No. E-22-7331).

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The informed consent was collected from the patients pre-operatively.

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Alahmadi, A., Yousef, M., Ibrahim, A. et al. A novel coupling quality index to estimate the coupling efficiency in Vibrant Soundbridge. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 281, 2333–2340 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08354-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08354-6

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