Effects on vestibular function after atraumatic cochlear implant surgery

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K20198
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: Keita Tsukada 信州大学, 学術研究院医学系(医学部附属病院), 助教 (90419375)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 人工内耳 / 遺伝性難聴 / めまい / 前庭機能 / カロリックテスト / VEMP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although numerous studies have reported the effects of cochlear implant surgery on the vestibular function, there have been no reports examining the vestibular function of the postoperative effects of new atraumatic concepts of electrode and surgical techniques, and only a few reports on vestibular function in patients with hereditary hearing loss who will be candidates of cochlear implantation surgery. In this research, we examined the vestibular functions in patients diagnosed with hereditary hearing loss and the changes in vestibular functions after implantation in patients who underwent atraumatic surgery.
About 50% of the patientswith causative genes of hereditary hearing loss who underwent vestibular tests (caloric testing, cVEMP and oVEMP) had at least one vestibular dysfunction. The vestibular function was well preserved after atraumatic cochlear implantation surgery.
The round window approach and soft electrode are preferred to decrease the risk of impairing vestibular function.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学　めまい平衡医学　耳科学