2011 Volume 21 Issue 5 Pages 763-770
Advances in developing new atraumatic concepts of electrode design as well as surgical technique have enabled hearing preservation after cochlear implantation surgery, and EAS (electric acoustic stimulation) accompanied with hearing preservation is a new trend for patients with residual hearing at the lower frequencies. In this study, based on the atraumatic concepts and using a round window insertion, an atraumatic electrode, and dexamethasone administration, hearing preservation was evaluated with full insertion of the electrode. Post-operative evaluation after full insertion of the electrodes showed hearing at low frequencies was well preserved in all 16 cases (16 ears) who were followed up more than one month. In our series of experiences with full insertion with a long electrode we were successfully able to preserve residual hearing at low frequencies. The present results indicated that development of atraumatic procedures, including fine flexible electrodes, surgical technique (round window insertion), as well as post-operative steroid application enabled successful preservation for hearing.
