Surgical complications and their management in cochlear implantees less than 5 years of age: The KEMH Pune experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of surgical complications of cochlear implantation and their management at K.E.M. hospital Pune.

METHODS: It was a retrospective and prospective observational study conducted from February 2006 to December 2015 in the paediatric age group of 12 months to 5 years (213 cases). The complications were divided into major and minor groups based on the classification proposed by Cohen and Hoffman.

RESULTS: The mean age of implantation was 3.03 years (ranged from 1 to 4.11 years). Sixteen patients had complications. The overall incidence of complications was 7.51% which comprised of major (2.34%) and minor (5.16%) complications. The commonest major complications were flap-related issues and the commonest minor complication was facial paresis.

DISCUSSION: The results of our study were compared with similar studies conducted in the past. All surgical complications were treated conservatively or surgically with success.

CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implantation is the safe procedure in children between the age group of 12 months and less than 5 years.