The field of Otologic implantation has changed significantly over the past thirty years since my initial exposure to the field as a medical student back in the U.K. In this session, I’ve chosen to tell five authentic and personal stories which I feel encapsulate the very different challenges we have chosen or been forced to face on that journey. I’d like to cover some of our experience with cochlear implantation in NF2 and also how we manage device placement in those clients who are unfortunate to present with pre-existing middle ear disease. A third story on cochlear implantation will tell of our experience in Halifax with children and youth who chose to receive a second, sequential device when bilateral funding first became available in the Maritimes. Moving to bone conduction, our experience as early adopters of percutaneous placement using minimally invasive Ponto surgery (MIPS) will be outlined. I will detail the patient benefits and resource savings we have identified. The final story will relate to transcutaneous Bonebridge devices and specifically to our preference to place the device in a superior position, away from the mastoid air cell system.
Learning Objectives:
- Learners will be encouraged to reflect on the breadth of our field by considering five diverse, real-life stories
- Appreciate the potential place and limitations for cochlear implantation in NF2
- Appreciate the reasons for caution when approaching cochlear implantation in the presence of pre-existing middle ear disease
- Better understand the challenges faced with sequential implantation in our small cohort
- Feel able to describe the salient steps in MIPS
- Appreciate that superior placement of the Bonebridge device is possible while maintaining performance
