Application of an Intraoperative Auditory Brainstem Response Measurement System in Active Middle Ear Implant Revision Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the benefit of intraoperative auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements in revision active middle ear implant surgery.

Study design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: Tertiary referral center with a large active middle ear implant program.

Main outcome measures: Intraoperative ABR thresholds, audiogram, sound field thresholds, speech understanding in the Freiburger monosyllabic word test.

Patients: Fourteen patients with active middle ear implant revision surgery.

Results: The application of the ABR measurement resulted in improved sound field thresholds and enhanced speech understanding. Analysis revealed a significant correlation of intraoperative gain in ABR threshold with the postoperative gain in sound field thresholds.

Conclusion: ABR monitoring can be a useful tool to provide information intraoperatively about the coupling efficiency of the FMT. Especially in revision surgeries, this might help to improve postoperative hearing success.