Cochlear Implant Surgery

Cochlear implant surgery lasts about two hours and is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. Some conditions that may affect the cochlea, such as cochlear ossification (bony growth) or cochlear abnormalities may lengthen the time of surgery. Prior to surgery, a small portion of hair is shaved around the ear to be implanted. A small seat is created in the mastoid bone to hold the receiver/stimulator and protect it. The surgeon drills through the mastoid bone to the inner ear. The electrode array is then inserted into the cochlea. The receiver/stimulator is secured to the skull, and the incision is closed with stitches. Typically, patients return home the day of surgery. Stitches dissolve without being removed. Patients return to school or work within a week of surgery. Activation of the implant takes place two to four weeks after implantation, allowing enough time for the incision to heal properly. Cochlear implantation has the same surgical risks as other procedures conducted under general anesthesia and other routine surgeries of the middle or inner ear.

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