COCHLEAR IMPLANTS COMPLICATIONS IN ALEXANDRIA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Our objective is to determine the complication rate in children from a Alexandria University Hospital Cochlear Implant program and to discuss their causes and treatments. The methods include a retrospective study of 175 consecutive patients in otorhinolayrngology department of the Alexandria University Hospital. All patients receiving cochlear implants, from 1 January 2003 to 31 July 2014, have been included. All complications and treatments includingthat which related to plastic surgery were systematically reviewed with an average duration of follow-up to 6months . The results reveal that the overall rate of complications in our group was 15.4% (27 of 175). Wound infections represent the most common complication occurred. There were no cases of postsurgical meningitis. Two patients (1.1%) underwent exploration followed by reimplantation. In conclusion, we find that Cochlear Implantationis a safe low-morbidity technique with a relatively low complication rate in the presented population.