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Cochlear implantation in a patient with grand mal epilepsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Judith Szilvassy ,
Jeno Czigner ,
Istvan Somogyi ,
Jozsef Jori ,
Jozsef G. Kiss  and
Zoltan Szilvassy
Judith Szilvassy*
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Jeno Czigner
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Istvan Somogyi
Affiliation:
Department of Neuro-Psychiatry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Jozsef Jori
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Jozsef G. Kiss
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Zoltan Szilvassy
Affiliation:
Department of 1st Dept Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
*
Address for correspondence: Judith Szilvassy, M.D., Dept of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University, H-6721 Szeged, Tisza Lajos krt. 111, Hungary. E-mail: jutka@orl.szote.u-szeged.hu
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Abstract

A case is reported in which a Nucleus 22 channel intracochlear implant was used to treat a deaf Hungarian woman (aged 37 years) with a 34-year history of grand mal (GM) epilepsy maintained on carbamazepinediazepam combination therapy who had not benefited from conventional hearing aids. Pre-operative electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve, however, exhibited a good nerve function with no evidence of abnormal waveforms in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Successful intracochlear insertion of the 22 electrode resulted in a 40 dB hearing improvement at frequencies 250–2000 Hz in the implanted ear with no signs of pathologic wave activity at either the previously recognized epileptic focus (fronto-precentral region) or indeed, in other regions of the brain at use of the implant. We conclude that intracochlear implantation per se is not a hazardous intervention in patients with fronto-precentral epileptic foci.

Keywords

Cochlear implantEpilepsyElectrical stimulation
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 6 , June 1998 , pp. 567 - 569
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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References

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