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. 2018 Apr 22:24:2437-2445.
doi: 10.12659/msm.906210.

Preservation of Hearing Following Cochlear Implantation Using Different Steroid Therapy Regimens: A Prospective Clinical Study

Magdalena Beata Skarżyńska  1   2 , Piotr Henryk Skarżyński  1   3   4   5 , Bartłomiej Król  1   3 , Magdalena Kozieł  1   3 , Kamila Osińska  1   3 , Elżbieta Gos  1   3 , Henryk Skarżyński  1   3
Affiliations

Preservation of Hearing Following Cochlear Implantation Using Different Steroid Therapy Regimens: A Prospective Clinical Study

Magdalena Beata Skarżyńska et al. Med Sci Monit. .

Abstract

BACKGROUND A prospective clinical study was conducted to assess different regimens of steroid therapy and preservation of hearing following cochlear implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Study participants were ≥18 years-of-age, with a cochlear duct length ≥27.1 mm measured by computed tomography (CT), with hearing sound levels in the range of 10-120 decibels (dB) and sound frequencies of 125-250 hertz (Hz); sound levels of 35-120 dB and frequencies of 500-1,000 Hz; sound levels of 75-120 dB and frequencies of 2,000-8,000 Hz. Study exclusion criteria included diseases with contraindications for steroid therapy or medications that increased the effects of steroids. Patients had cochlear implantation and were divided into three treatment groups: intravenous (IV) steroid therapy (standard steroid therapy): combined oral and IV steroid therapy (prolonged steroid therapy); and a control group (cochlear implantation without steroid therapy). Hearing preservation was established by pure tone audiometry based on the pre-operative and postoperative average hearing thresholds according to the formula developed by the HEARRING Network. RESULTS There were 36 patients included in the study. In all cases, the cochlear implant electrode was inserted via the round window approach with a straight electrode length of 28 mm. Patients with combined oral and IV steroid therapy (prolonged steroid therapy) had better results when compared with patients with intravenous (IV) steroid therapy (standard steroid therapy) and the control group. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged steroid therapy using combined oral and IV steroids stabilized hearing thresholds and preserved hearing in adult patients following cochlear implantation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Partial deafness treatment groups for cochlear implantation. ENS – electro-natural stimulation; EC – electrical complement; EAS – electrical-acoustic stimulation; ES – electrical stimulation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study design for the first group, treated with intravenous steroid only. IV – intravenous; bm – body mass.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Study design for the second group, treated with combined oral and intravenous (IV) steroid therapy (prolonged steroid therapy). p.o. – per oral; IV – intravenous; b.m. – body mass.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Average hearing threshold levels of the intravenous (IV), combined oral and IV steroid therapy (prolonged steroid therapy), and control group of patients in the pre-operative period, upon the activation of the cochlear implantation, at one-month follow-up and six-month follow-up.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Average hearing threshold levels of the intravenous (IV), combined oral and IV steroid therapy (prolonged steroid therapy), and control group patients in the pre-operative period, upon activation of the cochlear implantation, at one-month follow-up and at six-month follow-up
Figure 6
Figure 6
Hearing preservation (HP) rate in the study groups [21].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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