Cochlear implantation in children: labyrinthitis following pneumococcal otitis media in unimplanted and implanted cat cochleas.

Abstract

Pneumococcal otitis media is frequent in young children and could lead to labyrinthitis post-implantation. To assess the risk, and methods of minimizing it by a graft to the round window around the electrode entry point, we have used a cat animal model of pneumococcal otitis media. Twenty-one kittens were used in the study. Thirty-two cochleas were implanted when the kittens were 2 months of age. Fourteen cochleas were implanted without using a graft (12 were available for study); 9 had a fascial graft, and 9 a Gelfoam graft (7 were available for study). The implanted kittens had their bullae inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae 2 months after implantation and were sacrificed 1 week later. There were also 9 unimplanted control ears which were inoculated when the animals were 4 months of age. Labyrinthitis occurred in 44% of unimplanted control, 50% of implanted ungrafted, and 6% of implanted grafted (fascia and Gelfoam) cochleas. There was no statistically significant difference between the unimplanted control and the implanted cochleas (p < 0.05). There was, however, a difference between the implanted-ungrafted and implanted grafted cochleas, but not between the use of fascia and Gelfoam to graft the round window entry point. As a result, the data indicates that cochlear implantation does not increase the risk of labyrinthitis following pneumococcal otitis media, but it is desirable to use fascia as a graft to the round window around the electrode entry point.

• Authors: M C Dahm, G M Clark, B K Franz, R K Shepherd, M J Burton, R Robins-Browne
• Journal: Acta oto-laryngologica (Acta Otolaryngol) Vol. 114 Issue 6 Pg. 620-5 (Nov 1994) ISSN: 0001-6489 [Print] England
• PMID: 7879619 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Animals
• Cats
• Cochlea (physiopathology, surgery, ultrastructure)
• Cochlear Implants
• Deafness (rehabilitation)
• Ear, Inner (physiopathology, surgery)
• Ear, Middle (microbiology)
• Labyrinthitis (etiology, physiopathology)
• Otitis Media (complications, microbiology)
• Round Window, Ear (physiopathology, surgery)
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (isolation & purification)