Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Establish outcomes following cochlear implantation (CI) in patients with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome (JLNS). Methods Systematic review and narrative synthesis. Databases searched on Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Collection and ClinicalTrials.gov. No limits placed on language or year of publication. Review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Searches identified 63 abstracts and 19 full texts. Of these, 9 studies met inclusion criteria reporting outcomes in 66 patients with at least 72 implants. Hearing outcomes were generally good. Mortality secondary to cardiac complications within the follow up period occurred in at least five cases (7.6%), though three of these were thought to be unrelated to surgery. Potentially dangerous arrhythmias without associated morbidity were also noted in at least five patients. The methodological quality of included studies was modest, predominantly consisting of case reports and non-controlled case series with small numbers of patients. All studies were OCEBM grade IV. One study contributed 41/66 patients (62%). Hearing outcomes following CI in JLNS are generally good with the majority of patients experiencing useful hearing improvement. Significant peri-operative cardiac risks exist and should be discussed with the patient and family during pre-operative counselling and prompt thorough investigation, pre-operative optimisation and peri-operative monitoring.

Cochlear Implantation in Congenital Long-QT Syndrome: A Comprehensive Study.

OBJECTIVES: Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by congenital sensorineural deafness and significant QT interval prolongation. Aims were to study the prevalence of long QT in congenital hearing loss, complications encountered, outcomes by Categories of auditory Performance (CAP) scores and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores and to create an algorithm with precautions to be followed in Long QT children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study was done at Auditory implant center at a tertiary referral care ENT hospital which includes 41 paediatric patients who were diagnosed to have Long QT during preoperative assessment and underwent cochlear implantation. A standard Protocol was followed in all candidates which includes comprehensive targeted history and investigations, preoperative and intraoperative precautions, and the findings were recorded. RESULTS: Preoperative prophylactic Beta blockers, avoiding sympathetic stimulation and drugs prolonging QT interval with rational use of Magnesium Sulphate and standby of defibrillator were the standard precautions practised. Fatal Arrhythmias were encountered intra-operatively in five patients which was treated with cardiac pacing. Cardiac monitoring was done intraoperatively and during switch-on. Significant improvement in CAP and SIR scores were observed at 3 and 6 months when compared to their base line values. CONCLUSION: With special attention to preoperative evaluation, appropriate intraoperative precautions and monitoring, judicious surgical planning and post surgical follow-up cochlear implantation may be performed safely in patients with JLNS with good postoperative results allowing for improved audition.

Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in cochlear implanted patients: our experience and a review of literature.

OBJECTIVES: To share our experience in cochlear implanted patients with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), to review the literature results and to disclose precautions which have to be taken dealing with these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electrocardiograms (ECG) of 503 children with congenital bilateral profound hearing loss which were cochlear implanted in cochlear implant center of a tertiary hospital were evaluated for long QT syndrome. Clinical reports of the patients with JLNS were evaluated and a review of literature performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of disease was 0.79% (four cases) in our center which is in the range of literature reports (0-2.6%). None of our patients had a history of syncopal attack. Two patients (50%) were born from parents with consanguineous marriage. Considering all precautions their cochlear implant surgeries were done uneventfully. A review of the literature has identified sixteen reports on cochlear implantation in a total of 38 children with JLNS. Similar to our cases none of the authors reported cardiac events during device switch-on. Nine available reports about the outcome of cochlear implantation in these patients indicated good auditory outcome. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that all congenitally deaf patients have an ECG taken as a part of the evaluation. As auditory stimuli is reported to be a specific trigger, it is prudent to activate the processor with continuous heart monitoring even though there is no reported cardiac event during device switch-on. Cochlear implantation can be performed relatively safely in these patients if necessary precautions have been taken appropriately and their auditory outcome is good. Triggers of the cardiac events should be avoided throughout their life.

Cochlear implantation and cardiac associations.

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear implantation is a safe surgery for restoration of hearing in profoundly deaf candidates. Profound deafness may at times, manifest as a part of a syndrome associated with cardiac anomalies. Cardiac co-morbidities may influence cochlear implantation in a spectrum of ways from minor intra operative issues to major life threatening complications. Issues related to pre operative, intra operative and post operative care needs to be addressed by an efficient in house cardiologist. OBJECTIVES: Our retrospective study was aimed at analyzing the various cardiac co-morbidities encountered in 30 out of 500 cochlear implantees over a period of 14 years (July 1999-June 2012). This study was focused on developing a profile of cardiac complications influencing cochlear implantation and suggests a protocol for management of various cardiac issues related to cochlear implantation. Our article also reflects the cardiologist's perspective of peri-operative care to be given during cochlear implantation. Relevant literature has been reviewed. METHODS: Case series of 30 profoundly deaf children (below 12 years) who had associated cardiac problems and underwent cochlear implantation in our institution were included in our study. Overall cardiac disease was identified in 30 out of 500 implantees (16.6%) in our experience. The cardiac disease can be categorized into 3 groups: candidates with isolated Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) as Group A (8/30), candidates with syndrome and other anomalies with PDA association as Group B (18/30), and candidates with syndromes without PDA association as Group C (4/30). RESULTS: The overall incidence of cardiac problems in profoundly deaf candidates is identified. Descriptive profile of the same has been created and appropriate management for the same described. CONCLUSIONS: A protocol for management of cardiac co-morbidities influencing cochlear implantation has been designed and detailed insight for the optimal management of these issues has been discussed with cardiologist's perspective.

Videoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation for patients with recurrent ventricular fibrillation/malignant ventricular arrhythmia syndromes besides congenital long-QT syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for patients with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias refractory to pharmacotherapy and ablation are minimal. Although left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) is well established in long-QT syndrome, its role in non-long-QT syndrome arrhythmogenic channelopathies and cardiomyopathies is less clear. Here, we report our single-center experience in performing LCSD in this setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this institutional review board-approved study, we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients (N=91) who had videoscopic LCSD at our institution from 2005 to 2011. Data were analyzed for the subset (n=27) who were denervated for an underlying diagnosis other than autosomal dominant or sporadic long-QT syndrome. The spectrum of arrhythmogenic disease included catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (n=13), Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (n=5), idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (n=4), left ventricular noncompaction (n=2), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n=1), ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=1), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (n=1). Five patients had LCSD because of high-risk assessment and ß-blocker intolerance, none of whom had a sentinel breakthrough cardiac event at early follow-up. Among the remaining 22 previously symptomatic patients who had LCSD as secondary prevention, all had an attenuation in cardiac events, with 18 having no breakthrough cardiac events so far and 4 having experienced ≥1 post-LCSD breakthrough cardiac event. CONCLUSIONS: LCSD may represent a substrate-independent antifibrillatory treatment option for patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia syndromes other than long-QT syndrome. The early follow-up seems promising, with a marked reduction in the frequency of cardiac events postdenervation.

Cochlear implantation in children with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome - a cautionary tale.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Jervell and Lange-Nielsen (JLN) syndrome is a rare cause of congenital profound hearing loss associated with a prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram. Children presenting for cochlear implantation with this condition may be asymptomatic but are at risk of sudden death. SCREENING AND SUBSEQUENT: careful management is therefore required to ensure a successful outcome. We present our experience of cochlear implantation in children with JLN syndrome, including two who died unexpectedly, and suggest a protocol for management of such cases. Clinical presentation Four cases of cochlear implantation in JLN syndrome are described. None had any previous cardiological family history. Two were diagnosed pre-operatively but, despite appropriate management under a cardiologist, died from cardiac arrest; the first in the perioperative period following reimplantation for infection, and the second unrelated to his cochlear implant surgery. The other two patients were diagnosed only subsequent to their implantation and continue to use their implants successfully. CONCLUSION: These cases highlight the variation in presentation of JLN syndrome, and the spectrum of disease severity that exists. Our protocol stresses the importance of careful assessment and counselling of parents by an experienced implant team.

Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in Norwegian children: aspects around cochlear implantation, hearing, and balance.

OBJECTIVES: Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) is a rare cause of autosomal recessive inherited deafness. JLNS patients are candidates for cochlear implantation, and represent a group that needs special attention and precautions. The aim of this article is to draw some guidelines for dealing with these patients, and to emphasize the importance of electrocardiography (ECG) screening of congenitally deaf patients. A probable vestibular dysfunction is also discussed. DESIGN: Eight of 273 implanted children (2.9%) at Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center, Oslo, Norway have been diagnosed with JLNS. All the children were evaluated with ECG, six of them before cochlear implantation. Auditory perception was evaluated with the littlEARS Auditory Questionnaire, or with a test battery developed at Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center. DNA sequencing was used to screen for mutations in the genes KCNQ1 and KCNE1. The cases are presented and discussed in a retrospective case review. RESULTS: Two of the children are dead. The corrected QT (QTc) interval in the ECG was markedly prolonged in all the children (median QTc, 0.59 sec; range, 0.53-0.65). Six children have more than 1 yr experience with their cochlear implant. Four of them are performing average or above compared with the other implanted children. All the children have mutations in the KCNQ1 gene. Six of our patients have delayed gross motor development, and the remaining two are markedly delayed compared with their older siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implantation can be performed safely and with good results in children with JLNS, but requires knowledge of the diagnosis and necessary precautions have to be taken. ECG should be taken for all children with congenital deafness, preferably before exposure to strong sound stimuli. Vestibular dysfunction seems to be a part of JLNS, but this needs further investigation.

Cochlear implantation in children with Jervell, Lange-Nielsen syndrome.

Jervell, Lange-Nielsen syndrome is a condition that causes profound hearing loss and disruption of the normal cardiac rhythm. This disorder is a form of long QT syndrome, a cardiac disorder that causes the cardiac muscle to take longer than usual to recharge between beats. A retrospective case study was performed to document cochlear implantation in three profoundly deaf children (two of them siblings) with Jervell, Lange-Nielsen syndrome. We discuss diagnosis and management of this syndrome and also the long-term performance of cochlear implantation in these Iranian patients, referring especially to the role of the ENT specialist in diagnosis and treatment. The collected data show that cochlear implantation can be relatively safely performed in patients with Jervell, Lange-Nielsen syndrome and that these children received significant benefit from cochlear implantation.