Abstract
(1) Background: The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern and has caused cancellation of elective cochlear implantation in many countries. This article sets out our experience with resuming cochlear implant (CI) surgery under COVID-19 conditions over a period of 3 months. In addition, early results of hearing preservation (HP) after CI surgery are presented; (2) Methods: We adopted epidemic management policies and procedures according to the National Consultant for Infectious Diseases recommendations. During preoperative visits, all patients were tested for COVID-19 with a RT-PCR test. One month postoperatively, HP values in the Partial Deafness Treatment (PDT) group of patients was established using the HEARRING group formula; (3) Results: Between January and March 2021, we performed 312 CI procedures in adult and pediatric patients. Of these, none were subsequently re-admitted to hospital and found to be COVID-19 positive. Postoperative audiometric results showed that complete or partial HP was achieved in more than half the PDT patients; (4) Conclusion: Cochlear implantation during the coronavirus disease pandemic is essential and, with careful planning, is perfectly feasible.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its much-anticipated World Report on Hearing on the 3 March 2021 [1]
We report our experience with 312 cochlear implant (CI) surgeries done in the months since resumption of our CI program
Between January and March 2021, we made 371 telephone calls to patients waiting in the queue for CI surgery
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its much-anticipated World Report on Hearing on the 3 March 2021 [1]. WHA70.13 [2], which urges member states to prioritize access to ear and hearing care (EHC) within national health plans and as part of universal health coverage. The rationale for this prioritization is the negative impact that unaddressed hearing loss can have on communication, speech, and language development, education, quality of life, employment, relationships, and cognition [3]. The percentage for cochlear implants (CIs) is believed to be even lower To address this challenge, the Report emphasizes that the newest hearing technologies, such as cochlear implants, are both efficacious and cost-effective. That means that by 2030 we should expect to see a 20% increase in the number of adults with hearing loss who use hearing technology such as auditory implants
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