Intraoperative Correction of Cochlear Implant Electrode Translocation.

INTRODUCTION: Translocation of precurved cochlear implant (CI) electrodes reduces hearing outcomes, but it is not known whether it is possible to correct scalar translocation such that all electrodes reside fully in the scala tympani (ST). METHODS: Six cadaveric temporal bones were scanned with CT and segmented to delineate intracochlear anatomy. Mastoidectomy with facial recess was performed. Precurved CI electrodes (CI532; Cochlear Limited) were implanted until scalar translocation was confirmed with postoperative CT. Then, electrodes were removed and replaced. CT scan was repeated to assess for translocation correction. Scalar position of electrode contacts, angular insertion depth (AID) of the electrode array, and M- (average distance between each electrode contact and the modiolus) were measured. An in vivo case is reported in which intraoperative translocation detection led to removal and replacement of the electrode. RESULTS: Five of 6 cadaveric translocations (83%) were corrected with 1 attempt, resulting in full ST insertions. AID averaged 285 ± 77° for translocated electrodes compared to 344 ± 28° for nontranslocated electrodes (p = 0.109). M- averaged 0.75 ± 0.18 mm for translocated electrodes and 0.45 ± 0.11 mm for nontranslocated electrodes (p = 0.016). Reduction in M- with translocation correction averaged 38%. In the in vivo case, translocation was successfully corrected in a single attempt. CONCLUSION: Scalar translocation of precurved CI electrodes can be corrected by removal and reinsertion. This significantly improves the perimodiolar positioning of these electrodes. There was a high rate of success (83%) in this cadaveric model as well as a successful in vivo attempt.

Effect of mitral annuloplasty device shape and size on leaflet and myofiber stress following repair of posterior leaflet prolapse: a patient-specific finite element simulation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Mitral annuloplasty (MA) devices are available in different shapes and sizes, but the preferred shape and size are unclear. METHODS: A previously described and validated finite element (FE) model of the left ventricle (LV) with mitral valve (MV) based on magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography images from a patient with posterior leaflet (PL; P2) prolapse was used in this study. FE models of MA devices with different shapes (flat partial, shallow saddle, pronounced saddle) and sizes (36-30) were created. Virtual leaflet resection + MA with each shape and size were simulated. Leaflet geometry, stresses in the leaflets and base of the LV, and forces in the chordae and MA sutures were calculated. RESULTS: All MA shapes increased the mitral coaptation length, reduced the elevated PL stress at end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) that occurred after leaflet resection, and reduced anterior leaflet (AL) stress at ES. MA devices of all shapes and sizes modestly reduced myofiber stress at the LV base in ED and ES. In general, saddle-shaped devices had the greatest effect. CONCLUSION: All MA shapes increased coaptation length and reduced mitral leaflet stress and myofiber stress in the base of the LV. an additional reduction in MA size further increased coaptation length and reduced leaflet and myofiber stress. In general, saddle-shaped devices had the greatest effect.

Contemporary Management of Jugular Paragangliomas With Neural Preservation.

OBJECTIVES: Management of jugular paragangliomas (PGL) has evolved toward subtotal resection (STR). The purpose of this study is to analyze neural preservation and adjuvant treatment for long-term local control. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTINGS: Tertiary neurotology practice. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Adults undergoing surgical treatment of jugular PGL between 2006 and 2019. Patients, disease, and treatment variables were collected retrospectively. Single predictor logistic regression was used to ascertain predictors of regrowth or need for salvage radiation. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients (median age, 47 years; 76% female) were identified. Most patients presented with advanced-stage disease (Glasscock-Jackson stage III-IV = 76%). Subtotal resection (STR) was performed in 32 (78%) patients. Extended STR (type 1) was the most commonly performed conservative procedure (n = 19, 59%). Postoperative new low cranial neuropathy (LCN) involving CN X and XII was rare (n = 3 and n = 1, respectively). Seventeen patients (41%) underwent postsurgical therapy for tumor regrowth or recurrence, including 15 patients who underwent adjuvant (n = 4) or salvage (n = 11) radiation. Overall tumor control of 94.7% was achieved at a mean follow-up of 35 months. All patients treated with combined modality treatment had local control at last follow-up. Logistic regression identified no single predictor for postsurgical radiation treatment or salvage-free survival. CONCLUSION: Management of jugular PGL with a conservative approach is safe and effective with a low rate of new LCN deficit. Active surveillance of residual tumor with salvage radiation for growth results in excellent long-term tumor control.

Effect of Scala Tympani Height on Insertion Depth of Straight Cochlear Implant Electrodes.

OBJECTIVE: Studies suggest lateral wall (LW) scala tympani (ST) height decreases apically, which may limit insertion depth. No studies have investigated the relationship of LW ST height with translocation rate or location. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Cochlear implant program at tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: LW ST height was measured in preoperative images for patients with straight electrodes. Scalar location, angle of insertion depth (AID), and translocation depth were measured in postoperative images. Audiologic outcomes were tracked. RESULTS: In total, 177 ears were identified with 39 translocations (22%). Median AID was 443° (interquartile range [IQR], 367°-550°). Audiologic outcomes (126 ears) showed a small, significant correlation between consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) word score and AID (r = 0.20, P = .027), although correlation was insignificant if translocation occurred (r = 0.11, P = .553). Translocation did not affect CNC score (P = .335). AID was higher for translocated electrodes (503° vs 445°, P = .004). Median translocation depth was 381° (IQR, 222°-399°). Median depth at which a 0.5-mm electrode would not fit within 0.1 mm of LW was 585° (IQR, 405°-585°). Median depth at which a 0.5-mm electrode would displace the basilar membrane by ≥0.1 mm was 585° (IQR, 518°-765°); this was defined as predicted translocation depth (PTD). Translocation rate was 39% for insertions deeper than PTD and 14% for insertions shallower than PTD (P = .008). CONCLUSION: AID and CNC are directly correlated for straight electrodes when not translocated. Translocations generally occur around 380° and are more common with deeper insertions due to decreasing LW ST height. Risk of translocation increases significantly after 580°.

Custom mastoid-fitting templates to improve cochlear implant electrode insertion trajectory.

PURPOSE: Insertion trajectory affects final intracochlear cochlear implant (CI) positioning, but limited information is available intraoperatively regarding ideal trajectory. We sought to improve intracochlear positioning CI electrodes using custom templates to specify insertion trajectory. METHODS: 3D reconstructions were created from computed tomography of three cadaveric temporal bones. Trajectories co-planar with the straight segment of the cochlea's basal turn were considered ideal. Templates were designed to fit against the drilled mastoid's surface and convey this guided trajectory via a hollow cylinder. Templates were 3D-printed using stereolithography. Mastoidectomy was performed. Template accuracy was tested by measuring target registration error (TRE) for four templates. A novel, roller-based insertion tool (designed to fit within the template cylinder) constrained insertions to intended trajectories. Insertions were performed with MED-EL Standard electrodes in three bones with three conditions: guided trajectory with insertion tool, non-guided trajectory with insertion tool and guided trajectory with surgical forceps. For the final condition, the template was used to mark the mastoid to convey trajectory. Insertion was stopped when electrode buckling occurred. RESULTS: TRE ranged from 0.23 to 0.73 mm. Mean TRE ± standard deviation was 0.55 ± 0.19 mm. Insertions along guided versus non-guided trajectories averaged more intracochlear electrodes (9, 8, 8 vs. 7, 7, 8) and greater angular insertion depths (AID) (377°, 341°, 320° vs. 278°, 302°, 290°). Insertions performed with forceps using templates as a guide also achieved excellent results (intracochlear electrodes: 10, 7, 8; AID: 478°, 318°, 333°). No translocations occurred. CONCLUSION: Custom mastoid-fitting templates reliably specify intended insertion trajectory and provide sufficient information for recreation of that trajectory with manual insertion after template removal. The templates can accurately target structures within the temporal bone with a TRE of 0.55 ± 0.19 mm. Our roller-based insertion tool achieves results comparable to manual insertion using surgical forceps.

Revision surgery following minimally invasive image-guided cochlear implantation.

Minimally invasive image-guided cochlear implantation (CI) research continues to progress. We previously performed the procedure in nine patients. Herein, we describe the first revision operation for device failure following minimally invasive image-guided CI. It was possible to reuse the original drill channel, obviating the need to convert to a wide-field mastoidectomy. Revision surgery, if required, can therefore be performed safely after minimally invasive image-guided CI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 129:1458-1461, 2019.

The effect of submandibular gland preservation during level 1B neck dissection on postoperative xerostomia.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the presence and degree of postoperative xerostomia following preservation or excision of the submandibular gland (SMG) during level IB neck dissection (ND) without adjuvant radiation. METHODS: Retrospective review with patient questionnaire administered to patients with pT1-2N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who underwent resection and ND with SMG preservation or SMG excision without postoperative radiation from 2011 to 2015. We analyzed an additional control group that was age and gender-matched and had not undergone oral resection or SMG excision. We compared the scores reported by the three groups from three questionnaires: University of Michigan Xerostomia Quality of Life (XeQoL), Short Form-8 (SF-8), and a xerostomia severity scale (XSS). Dry mouth severity (DMS) was calculated based on XSS scores among those complaining of any xerostomia. RESULTS: Eleven SMG preservation group, 14 SMG excision group and 15 control group patients completed the survey. Complication and recurrence rates were comparable among experimental groups. No differences were identified between the two experimental groups for the XeQoL, SF-8, and XSS questionnaires (p=0.96, 0.87, 0.7). Control patients reported less xerostomia on XeQoL (p=0.046) and XSS (p=0.01) compared to the experimental groups combined with no statistical difference in SF-8 scores (p=0.25). No patients in either group developed regional recurrence in level IB. CONCLUSION: SMG preservation, though technically and oncologically sound, does not appear in this study to reduce xerostomia. Oral resection with ND may result in some degree of xerostomia perception.

Thermoelectric effect in Aharonov-Bohm structures.

The thermoelectric effects of a single Aharonov-Bohm (SAB) ring and coupled double Aharonov-Bohm (DAB) rings have been investigated on a theoretical basis, taking into account the contributions of both electrons and phonons to the transport process by using the nonequilibrium Green's function technique. The thermoelectric figure of merit of the coupled DAB rings cannot be predicted directly by combining the values of two SAB ring systems due to the contribution of electron-phonon interaction to coupling between the two sites connecting the rings. We find that thermoelectric efficiency can be optimized by modulating the phases of the magnetic flux threading the two rings.

Measurement of mitral leaflet and annular geometry and stress after repair of posterior leaflet prolapse: virtual repair using a patient-specific finite element simulation.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent mitral regurgitation after mitral valve (MV) repair for degenerative disease occurs at a rate of 2.6% per year and reoperation rate progressively reaches 20% at 19.5 years. We believe that MV repair durability is related to initial postoperative leaflet and annular geometry with subsequent leaflet remodeling due to stress. We tested the hypothesis that MV leaflet and annular stress is increased after MV repair. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography was performed before and after repair of posterior leaflet prolapse in a single patient. The repair consisted of triangular resection and annuloplasty band placement. Images of the heart were manually co-registered. The left ventricle and MV were contoured, surfaced, and a 3D finite element (FE) model was created. Elements of the posterior leaflet region were removed to model leaflet resection and virtual sutures were used to repair the leaflet defect and attach the annuloplasty ring. RESULTS: The principal findings of the current study are the following: (1) FE simulation of MV repair is able to accurately predict changes in MV geometry including changes in annular dimensions and leaflet coaptation; (2) average posterior leaflet stress is increased; and (3) average anterior leaflet and annular stress are reduced after triangular resection and mitral annuloplasty. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully conducted virtual mitral valve prolapse repair using FE modeling methods. Future studies will examine the effects of leaflet resection type as well as annuloplasty ring size and shape.

Posterior papillary muscle anchoring affects remote myofiber stress and pump function: finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of posterior papillary muscle anchoring (PPMA) in the management of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR) is controversial. We studied the effect of anchoring point direction and relocation displacement on left ventricular (LV) regional myofiber stress and pump function. METHODS: Previously described finite element models of sheep 16 weeks after posterolateral myocardial infarction (MI) were used. True-sized mitral annuloplasty (MA) ring insertion plus different PPM anchoring techniques were simulated. Anchoring points tested included both commissures and the central anterior mitral annulus; relocation displacement varied from 10% to 40% of baseline diastolic distance from the PPM to the anchor points on the annulus. For each reconstruction scenario, myofiber stress in the MI, border zone, and remote myocardium as well as pump function were calculated. RESULTS: PPMA caused reductions in myofiber stress at end-diastole and end-systole in all regions of the left ventricle that were proportional to the relocation displacement. Although stress reduction was greatest in the MI region, it also occurred in the remote region. The maximum 40% displacement caused a slight reduction in LV pump function. However, with the correction of regurgitation by MA plus PPMA, there was an overall increase in forward stroke volume. Finally, anchoring point direction had no effect on myofiber stress or pump function. CONCLUSIONS: PPMA reduces remote myofiber stress, which is proportional to the absolute distance of relocation and independent of anchoring point. Aggressive use of PPMA techniques to reduce remote myofiber stress may accelerate reverse LV remodeling without impairing LV function.