Intraoperative monitoring of active middle ear implant function in patients with normal and pathologic middle ears

Abstract

Objective: To describe a technique enabling the intraoperative assessment of the mechanical coupling of active middle ear implants in patients with normal or dysfunctional middle ears. Patients: Patients with sensorineural or mixed hearing loss subjected to revision surgery of an active middle ear implant. Intervention: Recording of compound action potentials (CAPs) of the auditory nerve in response to stimulation via an active middle ear implant during revision surgery. Main Outcome Measures: CAP thresholds as a measure of mechanical coupling and system integrity. Conclusion: Determining CAP thresholds may be suitable for identifying a proper mechanical coupling of active middle ear implants in patients with a dysfunctional middle ear, even if the ossicular chain is disrupted. © 2010, Otology & Neurotology, Inc.