%A PR Axon
%A DJ Mawman
%A T Upile
%A RT Ramsden
%K Cochlear implant, Otitis media, Chronic suppurative
%T Cochlear implantation in the presence of chronic suppurative otitis media
%L discovery174456
%J Journal of Laryngology and Otology
%N 3
%V 111
%O Copyright Cambridge University Press 1997
%D 1997
%P 228 - 232
%I HEADLEY BROTHERS LTD
%X Nine patients are presented who underwent cochlear implantation ih the presence of chronic suppurative otitis media. Four had a simple tympanic membrane perforation, four had a pre-existing mastoid cavity and one had cholesteatoma in the ear chosen for implantation. Patients with a simple perforation had a staged procedure with myringoplasty followed by cochlear implantation after an interval of three months. Patients with cholesteatoma or with an unstable mastoid cavity were also staged. A mastoidectomy or revision mastoidectomy was performed with obliteration of the middle ear and mastoid using a superiorly pedicled temporalis muscle flap and blind sac closure of the external meatal skin. After a further six months a second stage procedure was performed to confirm that the middle-ear cleft was healthy and to insert the implant. Patients presenting with a stable mastoid cavity underwent obliteration of the cavity and implantation of the electrode as a one-staged procedure. To date there have been no serious problems such as graft breakdown, recurrence of disease or implant extrusion, and all patients are performing well.