Objective: To review the contemporary surgical issues in paediatric cochlear implantation (CI) based on published evidence.
Design: Narrative literature review.
Results: Surgical challenges in paediatric CI are discussed, with respect to post meningitic labyrinthitis ossificans; cochlear malformation; cochlear implantation in infants; auditory neuropathy and cochlear nerve deficiency; bilateral cochlear implantation; hearing preservation; otitis media; and device failure.
Conclusion: Early CI is recommended if bacterial meningitis causes profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). CI in cochleovestibular malformation requires pre-operative imaging to plan surgical technique, choice of electrode, and to anticipate complication. Children with congenital severe to profound SNHL should undergo early bilateral simultaneous implantation, preferably before 12 months of age, except those with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder who should be implanted after one year. Soft surgical technique should be deployed in an attempt to preserve any residual hearing. Otitis media with effusion is not a contraindication to cochlear implantation, but active or recurrent acute otitis media requires resolution of infection with grommet insertion pre-operatively. Device failure in CI recipients requires a stepwise audiological, medical, radiological, and device integrity assessment to determine the need for reimplantation.
Keywords: Cochlear implant; auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder; cochlear malformation; device failure; hearing preservation; labyrinthitis ossificans; otitis media; paediatrics; sequential; simultaneous.