Metwaly, Osama1
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kasr El Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Cochlear implantation is a routine common surgical procedure which should be considered relatively safe and easy to perform. The most commonly used approach was provided by House in 1976 and consists of mastoidectomy with posterior opening of the middle ear through the facial recess “posterior tympanotomy “to expose the round window and insert the cochlear implantation’s electrodes with the help of a microscope. However, it is sometimes difficult to access the round window through posterior tympanotomy due to anatomical variations of middle ear structures which is present in 11–22% of children .So, complementary techniques are considered.
The aim of the presentation is to describe the indications of usage of the endoscopic-aided cochlear implantation; as in cases with an unsuccessful routine surgical technique due to uncommon or abnormal anatomy of the middle ear not facilitating adequate access to the round window using the microscope alone by which there is a limited ability to access what is called “hidden areas “ within the middle ear cavity.
On the other hand, endoscopes are very useful for the access of those “hidden areas” and looking “around corners” in the middle ear cavity in addition to magnification of the middle ear structures thus it is easy to check all the anatomical features and exposing them to the surgeon.