American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 9-12, January 2007

Cochlear implant integrity after adenoidectomy with Coblation and monopolar electrosurgery☆

Presented at the American Neurotology Society annual meeting Chicago, IL, May 20–21, 2006.

  • Patrick J. Antonelli, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Box 100264, Gainesville, FL 32610-0264, USA. Tel.: +1 352 392 4461; fax: +1 352 392 6781.
    • ,
  • Roxana Baratelli, MD

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Department of Otolaryngology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

Received 16 April 2006; accepted 2 May 2006.

Abstract 

Purpose

Conventional electrosurgical adenoidectomy has been deemed contraindicated in subjects with cochlear implants (CIs) because of risk to the CI and the auditory neurons. No published studies have evaluated the safety of electrosurgical adenoidectomy techniques with CIs. The goal of this study was to compare the impact of monopolar electrosurgery and Coblation radiofrequency bipolar electrosurgery on CI integrity.

Methods

Twelve fresh, cadaveric pigs received unilateral CIs, then the nasopharynx was treated for 15 to 30 minutes with continuous monopolar electrosurgery or Coblation. CIs were tested by the manufacturer for device integrity before and after treatment.

Results

Integrity was maintained in all CIs treated with either monopolar or Coblation electrosurgery.

Conclusions

Although the safety of electrosurgical adenoidectomy after CI placement remains unproven, these observations suggest that judicious use of conventional monopolar and Coblation electrosurgery in adenoidectomy does not convey a serious risk to CI integrity. Theoretical considerations favor the use of Coblation over monopolar electrosurgery in CI recipients.

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☆ This study was supported in part by Cochlear Americas, Englewood, Colo, Med El Corporation, Durham, NC, and ArthroCare Corporation, Sunnyvale, Calif.

PII: S0196-0709(06)00094-9

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2006.05.001

American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 9-12, January 2007

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