Comparation on vestibular function during the perioperative period in pediatric cochlear implant patients with and without large vestibular aqueduct syndrome.

Abstract

Backgrounds: It remains unclear whether LVAS pediatric patients experience more severe subjective symptoms after surgery compared to other pediatric patients, whether their objective vestibular function is worse, and the underlying reasons for their poorer subjective experience.

Objectives: To compare vestibular function following CI between pediatric pediatric patients with and without LVAS.

Materials and methods: The study included 11 patients in the LVAS group(18.42 ± 2.4 month) and 24 patients in the NLVAS group(35.73 ± 11.40 month). A comprehensive assessment of vestibular function was conducted both preoperatively and postoperatively. The assessment included vestibular function tests and evaluation of vestibular-related symptoms. The vestibular function test was conducted using cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP).

Results: A higher incidence of postoperative dizziness was reported in the LVAS group compared to the NLVAS group (63.63% vs 0.08%, p = 0.001). The LVAS group exhibited a prolonged recovery period for head lifting and sitting compared to the NLVAS group (3.27 ± 0.715 vs 1.42 ± 0.119 days, p = 0.027; 4.09 ± 1.217 vs 1.92 ± 0.219 days, p = 0.022, respectively). The elicitation rate and amplitude of cVEMP in LVAS children showed no significant difference when compared to the NLVAS group preoperatively (p > 0.05). The LVAS group had a more decrease in amplitude 5 days after surgery compared to the NLVAS group (142.09 ± 33.98 vs 81.89 ± 17.13, p = 0.039).

Conclusion: Pediatric patients with LVAS are more prone to experiencing dizziness symptoms post- CI surgery. There is an increased fluctuation in amplitude of cVEMP in LVAS pediatric patients.