Use of remote control in the intraoperative telemetry of cochlear implant: multicentric study / Uso do controle remoto na telemetria intraoperatória do implante coclear: estudo multicêntrico

Abstract Introduction: The conventional evaluation of neural telemetry and impedance requires the use of the computer coupled to an interface, with software that provides visualization of the stimulus and response. Recently, a remote control (CR220®) was launched in the market, that allows the performance of intraoperative tests with minimal instrumentation. Objective: To evaluate the agreement of the impedance values and neural telemetry thresholds, and the time of performance in the conventional procedure and by the remote control. Methods: Multicentric prospective cross-sectional study. Intraoperative evaluations of cochlear implants compatible with the use of CR220® were included. The tests were carried out in the 22 electrodes to compare the time of performance in the two situations. The agreement of the neural telemetry threshold values obtained from five electrodes was analyzed, and the agreement of impedance was evaluated by the number of electrodes with altered values in each procedure. Results: There were no significant difference between the impedance values. There was a moderate to strong correlation between the electrically-evoked compound action potential thresholds. The mean time to perform the procedures using the CR220 was significantly lower than that with the conventional procedure. Conclusion: The use of the CR220 provided successful records for impedance telemetry and automatic neural response telemetry.

Resumo Introdução: A avaliação convencional da telemetria neural e de impedâncias implica o uso do computador acoplado a uma interface, o software fornece o estímulo e a visualização das respostas. Recentemente, foi lançado um controle remoto (CR220®), que possibilita testes intraoperatórios com instrumental mínimo. Objetivo: Avaliar a concordância dos valores das impedâncias e dos limiares da telemetria neural e o tempo de execução no procedimento convencional e pelo controle remoto. Método: Estudo prospectivo transversal multicêntrico. Foram incluídas as avaliações intraoperatórias de implante coclear compatível com o uso do CR220®. Os testes foram realizados nos 22 eletrodos para comparar os tempos de execução nas duas situações. Foi analisada a concordância dos valores do limiar da telemetria neural obtidos em cinco eletrodos e a concordância das impedâncias foi avaliada pelo número de eletrodos com valores alterados em cada procedimento. Resultados: Não houve diferença significante entre as impedâncias. Obteve-se moderada a forte correlação entre os limiares do potencial de ação composto eletricamente evocado. O tempo médio para os procedimentos com o CR220 foi significativamente menor do que com o procedimento convencional. Conclusão: O uso do CR220 proporcionou registros bem-sucedidos para a telemetria de impedância e a telemetria automática de respostas neurais.

Use of remote control in the intraoperative telemetry of cochlear implant: multicentric study.

INTRODUCTION: The conventional evaluation of neural telemetry and impedance requires the use of the computer coupled to an interface, with software that provides visualization of the stimulus and response. Recently, a remote control (CR220®) was launched in the market, that allows the performance of intraoperative tests with minimal instrumentation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the agreement of the impedance values and neural telemetry thresholds, and the time of performance in the conventional procedure and by the remote control. METHODS: Multicentric prospective cross-sectional study. Intraoperative evaluations of cochlear implants compatible with the use of CR220® were included. The tests were carried out in the 22 electrodes to compare the time of performance in the two situations. The agreement of the neural telemetry threshold values obtained from five electrodes was analyzed, and the agreement of impedance was evaluated by the number of electrodes with altered values in each procedure. RESULTS: There were no significant difference between the impedance values. There was a moderate to strong correlation between the electrically-evoked compound action potential thresholds. The mean time to perform the procedures using the CR220 was significantly lower than that with the conventional procedure. CONCLUSION: The use of the CR220 provided successful records for impedance telemetry and automatic neural response telemetry.

Can cochlear implants decrease tinnitus?

Suppression of tinnitus by electrical stimulation via a cochlear implant has been studied in recent years. Some individuals who undergo cochlear implant surgery report total or partial relief of the symptoms even in the contralateral ear. The mechanisms involved in this suppression are not clear. The results obtained in our study demonstrated an improvement of 71% in 29 implant cases, confirming data found in the literature. Our aim was to study tinnitus in individuals before surgery and after cochlear implant activation and to observe improvement in the perception of tinnitus, comparing these results with data in the literature. We conducted a retrospective study of 29 postlingual adults who had profound sensorineural hearing loss and underwent cochlear implant surgery at the cochlear implant sector of the Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, between May 2003 and June 2005. The device employed in this procedure was the Nucleus 24K multichannel device (Cochlear Ltd, Lane Cove, Australia). After the internal component was activated, patients completed a questionnaire. Before surgery, 21 of the 29 patients (72%) who later underwent cochlear implant surgery presented with tinnitus, which was bilateral in 14 cases (67%). After the cochlear implant was activated, seven patients (33%) presented with total suppression, and eight patients (39%) reported partial relief. In the 14 cases with bilateral symptoms, tinnitus was totally suppressed or decreased in both ears in 12 cases (86%). Individuals who underwent multichannel cochlear implant surgery presented with reduced tinnitus even in the contralateral ear.