cochlear implant candidacy

cochlear implant surgery

what to expect after cochlear implant surgery

Precautions

1. No heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 48 hours. No contact sports for 4 weeks.

2. Keep your head elevated on several pillows when lying down for 2 weeks following surgery. In infants, place an extra blanket under the head to keep it elevated.

3. The outer cap dressing may be removed 48 hours after surgery. The bandages on the wound may also be removed. Oozing is normal.

The younger child or infant may take it upon him/herself to remove the dressing earlier. Attempt to reapply the dressing but do not force the issue.

Showering and bathing is allowed 72 hours after the operation.

4. After you have removed the outer cap/dressing, clean the incision with half-strength hydrogen peroxide twice a day until it has healed with Q-tips.

Apply Vaseline to the incision after cleansing. Do not use Neosporin or Bacitracin as a growing number of patients are developing allergies to these ointments.

The sutures are dissolvable and will fall out on their own. There may be oozing and drainage from the incision – this is normal after surgery.

5. The ear may stick out; this is normal and will resolve. Swelling the size of a golf ball may represent a blood collection and requires a physician's care immediately. Drainage of fluid from the wound is normal and will improve.

6. You may experience ringing, popping, crackling, or other sounds in the ear. This is caused by nerve stimulation or fluid in the ear from surgery and usually goes away at activation. Soreness and pains are not unusual and will gradually diminish with time. At times, it may feel as if the ear feels clogged or filled with fluid. This is entirely expected after surgery.

7. Driving is permitted when you no longer experience dizziness or fatigue and are no longer taking prescription pain medications.

8. The first post-operative follow up appointment will be 2 weeks after surgery-this will be with Audiology when your new device is activated-call 508-334-8736 to confirm this date.

9. Adult patients will see the surgeon about 1 month following your activation – call 508-856-4161 to confirm this date.

10. Pediatric patients will see the surgeon one week after surgery. The sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.

11. Call you doctor immediately for high fevers, unusual neck stiffness, shortness of breath, leg pain, tense swelling at the surgical site, or increasing pain.

What might you expect following surgery?

Dizziness
Dizziness may occur following surgery. If your incision is not bleeding, you do not have gastric ulcers, and are not allergic to ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), you may take two 200 mg tablets of ibuprofen every 4-6 hours. This will help the swelling as well as ease any pain. Avoid sudden movements; stand up slowly.

If you experience worsening headaches, dizziness, neck stiffness, light sensitivity, and fevers, contact us as soon as possible.

Swelling
Swelling is common following surgery. The swelling can occur behind the ear, in front of the ear, around the eye, or around the mouth. Some bruising may also occur.

The operative ear may appear to stick out or appear to be higher or lower than the other ear. This is normal and will gradually subside over the weeks following surgery.

However, if a golf ball sized swelling develops over the implant, please contact us as soon as possible.

Drainage or discharge
A bloody or watery discharge is expected during the healing process. Call your doctor’s office for excessive discharge. Call your doctor’s office for a yellow or green discharge. Discharge with foul odor should also be reported.

Some patients notice a nosebleed or spit up blood - this is from the blood that accumulates in the middle ear during surgery, and drains into the back of the nose. This is not cause for concern.

Pain
You will be given a prescription for a pain medication, which may be taken for the first several days after surgery. Mild, intermittent ear pain is not unusual during the first two weeks after surgery.

Pain above or in front of the ear is common when chewing. If you have persistent ear pain not relieved by a regular dose of Tylenol or Advil after the first several days, call your doctor’s office.

Some patients, particularly older patients with neck problems, may notes some increasing neck stiffness after surgery. This is from head positioning during surgery and can be managed with warm compresses, neck exercises, and anti-inflammatory medications.

Antibiotics
You will be given an antibiotic to take following surgery. Please finish the medication; do no stop early even if you feel well. If you think you may be developing an allergic reaction to the antibiotic, develop a yeast infection, diarrhea or loose stools, or have severe abdominal cramping, please call your doctor’s office. Contact us as soon as possible for any high fevers, severe headaches, or unusual neck stiffness.

Taste Disturbance and Dry Mouth
Taste disturbance and dry mouth are common for a few weeks following surgery. In some patients, this can last a few months.

Tinnitus
A few patients experience “ringing” in the operative ear following surgery. This is normal and will subside after activation. If tinnitus was present before surgery, it may become louder until activation.

OTHER FINDINGS

You may have some jaw joint discomfort-this is common and is temporary.

You may have some slight bruising around the eye or corner of the mouth-this occasionally occurs because of the facial nerve monitor electrodes and is temporary.

bilateral cochlear implants

infant hearing screening program

the cochlear implant program

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slide presentation: a brief overview of pediatric cochlear implants