Re-implantation of the Rion E-type semi-implantable hearing aid: Status of long-term use and hearing outcomes in eight patients
Description
The Rion Ehime (E)-type implantable hearing aid (IHA) is the first middle ear implant. We implanted 39 IHAs into 39 patients, and found that the IHA functioned well for15 years. So far, 28 IHAs have been removed because they stopped functioning. An IHA was re-implanted in 8 of the 28 cases. This study assessed the status of long-term use and hearing outcomes in the eight patients to confirm the safety and advantages of repeated implant operation.Current status and operational findings of the eight re-implantees and hearing outcomes were investigated by reviewing the patients' records.Four of the eight cases still use their devices; all four originally suffered from cholesteatoma. In the remaining four cases, the devices stopped functioning 2.4-9.4 years after re-implantation; they suffered from chronic otitis media. Preoperative air and bone conduction hearing and IHA hearing 3 months after the first implantation were 61.1±13.1dB, 40.6±11.3dB, and 26.9±10.5dB, respectively (n=8). At the time of removal, they were 59.4±12.4dB, 40.2±14.2dB, and 42.9±14.9dB, respectively. Three months after re-implantation, they were 60.4±14.6dB, 37.3±14.7dB, and 29.4±13.4dB, respectively.Re-implantation of an IHA is beneficial and safe for patients. As the absence of active inflammation has a crucial effect on the period of use, re-implantation should be judged carefully after deterioration of the initial implant.
Journal
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- Auris Nasus Larynx
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Auris Nasus Larynx 39 572-576, 2012-12-01
Elsevier BV
