Auditory Brainstem Implantation Draws on Expertise from Both Otology and Neurosurgery
Leave a reply →“Performing auditory brainstem implant surgery is very challenging. Unlike cochlear implantation, in which the implant is connected to the cochlear nerve, the auditory brainstem implant is connected directly to the brainstem, since these patients don’t have a functioning cochlear nerve, due to tumors, trauma, congenital disorders, or as a result of surgery. We do this procedure in collaboration with our neurosurgery department colleagues. Since brain surgery is involved, the hospital stay can be up to three days, with the first night in Intensive Care, and we need to wait a good deal longer than with a cochlear implant before activating the device. My hope is that as we perform more and more adult auditory brainstem implants, we will then be able to do the same in the pediatric population, enabling us to help more patients and bring clinical advancements to the field.”