Electric compound action potentials (ECAPs) and impedances in an open and closed operative site during cochlear implantation

Introduction: In patients undergoing cochlear implantation, intraoperative measures of impedance and electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) are used to confirm device integrity and electrode array position. However, these electrophysiological parameters have been shown to decrease over time, with a small decrement observable as early as 24?h post implantation and becoming more apparent after 6 months. Whether the intraoperatively measured impedances and ECAPs recorded immediately after electrode insertion versus later in the operation or in an open versus closed operative site vary has not been documented. Such variation in measurement procedure may affect the ultimate operative outcome.

Patients and methods: Between February and October 2016, 38 patients received a cochlear implant (Cochlear^®), with half receiving a CI 522 device and the other half receiving a CI 512 device. These patients were distributed into three groups. In the first (group A; n?=?21), the impedance and threshold neural response telemetry (tNRT) measures were taken before (M1) and after cutaneous suture (M2), whereas in the second group (group B; n?=?11) they were taken twice in the open operative site, once at the time of electrode insertion (M1) and then again 10?min later (M2). The last group (group C; n?=?6) was measured only once after a 10?min waiting time before closing the operative site.

Results: tNRTs of both group A and B were significantly higher at M1 than measured at M2. The magnitude of change in tNRT did vary significantly by group (P?=?.027) with group A having a bigger decrease than group B. For impedances there was evidence for a significant difference in M2 between the three groups (P?=?.012), with group C having significantly higher values compared to group A and B.

Conclusion: Intraoperative tNRT measures change significantly over time, including within the first 10?min of implantation. One underlying etiology of this phenomenon for tNRTs seems to be the condition of the surgical site whereas changes of impedances can be best explained by the ‘electrochemical cleaning’ theory associated with the first stimulation of the electrode. However, for both impedances and tNRTs there also is an important impact of time as well as of acute perioperative changes in electrical conductivity.