Auditory Nerve Recovery Function in Cochlear Implant Surgery with Local Anesthesia and Sedation versus General Anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze auditory nerve recovery function (REC), comparing the results after local anesthesia and sedation with those after general anesthesia.

METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study in a tertiary referral center hospital. We included all patients (37 ears) who underwent surgery for cochlear implant under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia and sedation during 3 years. REC was measured according to the function of 3 components, 'T0', 'A' and 'tau', and was taken for 3 cochlear electrodes (apical, medial and basal).

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in 'tau' and in the current level used, but there were significant differences in the parameters 'T0' apical and 'A' basal.

CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in REC between the 2 types of anesthesia, except for the parameters 'T0' apical and 'A' basal.