Bilateral Auditory Brainstem Implants in Patients With Neurofibromatosis 2.
Publication/Presentation Date
8-1-2021
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To discuss indications for bilateral auditory brainstem implants (ABIs), compare audiometric outcomes of unilateral vs bilateral ABIs, and determine if patients have improved outcomes with addition of a second-side implant.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of 24 patients with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) who underwent sequential placement of ABIs from 1989 to 2019.
SETTING: Tertiary referral center.
METHODS: Charts were reviewed for indication for second-side surgery, use of implants, and audiometric outcomes. Implants placed in the past 30 years were included in the study. Northwestern University Children's Perception of Speech (NU-CHIPS) and/or City University of New York (CUNY) sentence scores were compared in unilateral and bilateral conditions.
RESULTS: Indications for a second-side implant included first-side implants with severe nonauditory symptoms (11), marginal audiometric results (9), outdated technology (2), or deterioration of first side (2). Seven patients are bilateral users and 1 patient discontinued bilateral use after a year due to no significant improvement over unilateral use. One patient with initial bilateral use was lost to follow-up. Thirteen patients are unilateral users due to nonaudiometric side effects or poor audiometric outcomes with the first side. Two patients are complete nonusers. Seventy-five percent had improved audiometric outcomes after the second-side implant, and 20% had stable findings.
CONCLUSIONS: Second-side ABIs should be consider in patients with poor performance from a first-side implant. Most patients demonstrate subjective improvement with the second ABI. More research is needed for better objective assessments of improvements.
Volume
165
Issue
2
First Page
339
Last Page
343
ISSN
1097-6817
Published In/Presented At
Noonan, K. Y., Rock, J., Barnard, Z., Lekovic, G. P., Brackmann, D. E., & Wilkinson, E. P. (2021). Bilateral Auditory Brainstem Implants in Patients With Neurofibromatosis 2. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 165(2), 339–343. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599820977420
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
33317418
Department(s)
Department of Surgery Faculty
Document Type
Article