MED-EL Combi40+ cochlear implantation in adults

Objectives/Hypothesis: Cochlear implantation is currently the treatment of choice for severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. The MED-EL Combi40+ (Innsbruck, Austria) cochlear implant system, was approved for use in the United States in 2001. This device employs a 31-mm-long electrode array, ceramic case, and continuous interleaved sampling with Hilbert transformation for envelope extraction. A single institution's experience with the Combi40+ implant in adult patients was reviewed. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Medical-surgical and audiological data were collected from 112 patients who received a MED-EL Combi40 + cochlear implant between December 1998 and April 2004. Results: The rate of surgical complications and speech perception testing results compared favorably with those of other cochlear implant systems. For postlingually deafened adults, mean CNC word, HINTQ, CUNY, and HINT + 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio scores after 1 year of implant usage were 54%, 87%, 96%, and 64%, respectively. Prelingnally deafened adults also derived significant benefit, but plateau performance for these patients was well below that for patients with later onset of deafness and significant variability was seen in this group. Repeat implantation for suspected device malfunction was undertaken in seven cases (6% of devices) (mean duration of use, 28 ± 12 mo) with ultimate resolution of the presenting problem. Conclusion: The study results support the safety and efficacy of cochlear implantation with the MED-EL Combi40+ cochlear implant system.