Objective To evaluate patients’ and caregivers’ perceived benefit of using a custom 3-dimensional (3D)-printed transparent model of a skull with unilateral congenital aural atresia as a tool for surgical counseling. Design Prospective study. Setting Tertiary academic children's hospital. Patients/Participants Twenty-three families with children with congenital aural atresia. Interventions A custom 3D-printed skull model was created from a computed tomography scan of a 5-year-old male patient with right unilateral congenital aural atresia, using transparent VEROCLEAR for bone and contrasting colors for the facial nerve, auditory ossicles, and bony labyrinth. This 3D model was used during standardized counseling about congenital aural atresia. Families were surveyed regarding their understanding of congenital aural atresia and their impressions of the model. Main Outcome Measures Scale of 1 to 5 (strongly disagree to strongly agree) regarding utility of the 3D model. Results Resources used most by families to learn about congenital aural atresia were online (57%) and doctor's visits (83%). Families strongly agreed that having a 3D model made it easier to understand the anatomy of congenital aural atresia (4.7/5, SD 0.5), the goals of surgical repair (4.7/5, SD 0.7), and the risks of atresiaplasty surgery (4.6/5, SD 0.6). Model use also increased reported comfort level with treatment decision-making (4.7/5, SD 0.6). Conclusion A novel, transparent 3D-printed model of congenital aural atresia that allows patients and families to visualize and physically interact with complex temporal bone anatomy could be a valuable, effective, and readily available tool to improve patient surgical counseling.

OBJECTIVES:Evaluate potential effects of calcium channel blockers (CCB) and bisphosphonates (BP) on residual hearing following cochlear implantation. METHODS:Medications of 303 adult hearing preservation (HP) candidates (low frequency pure tone average [LFPTA] of 125, 250, and 500 Hz ≤80 dB HL) were reviewed. Postimplantation LFPTA of patients taking CCBs and BPs were compared to controls matched by age and preimplantation LFPTA. RESULTS:Twenty-six HP candidates were taking a CCB (N = 14) or bisphosphonate (N = 12) at implantation. Median follow-up was 1.37 years (range 0.22-4.64y). Among subjects with initial HP, 29% (N = 2 of 7) CCB users compared to 50% (N = 2 of 4) controls subsequently lost residual hearing 3-6 months later (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.04-4.32, p = 0.58). None of the four BP patients with initial HP experienced delayed loss compared to 50% (N = 2 of 4) controls with initial HP (OR = 0.00, 95% CI = 0.00-1.95, P = 0.43). Two CCB and one BP patients improved to a LFPTA <80 dB HL following initial unaided thresholds that suggested loss of residual hearing. DISCUSSION:There were no significant differences in the odds of delayed loss of residual hearing with CCBs or BPs. CONCLUSION:Further investigation into potential otoprotective adjuvants for maintaining residual hearing following initial successful hearing preservation is warranted, with larger cohorts and additional CCB/BP agents.

ObjectiveTo assess the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values for cochlear implant-related speech recognition scores, which have not been previously reported.Study DesignRetrospective cohort.SettingTertiary referral center.PatientsEight hundred sixty-three adult patients who underwent cochlear implantation between 2009 and 2022.Main Outcome MeasuresMCID values for consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) word scores and AzBio sentences in quiet and noise scores using distribution-based methods (half-standard deviation, standard error of measurement, Cohen'sd, and minimum detectable change).ResultsIn this cohort, the mean preoperative CNC word score was 13.9% (SD, 15.6). The mean preoperative AzBio sentences in quiet score was 19.1% (SD, 22.1), and the mean preoperative AzBio sentences in noise score was 13.0% (SD, 12.0). The average MCID values of several distribution-based methods for CNC, AzBio in quiet, and AzBio in noise were 7.4%, 9.0%, and 4.9%, respectively. Anchor-based approaches with the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of hearing patient-reported measure did not have strong classification accuracy across CNC or AzBio in quiet and noise scores (ROC areas under-the-curve ≤0.69), highlighting weak associations between improvements in speech recognition scores and subjective hearing-related abilities.ConclusionsOur estimation of MCID values for CNC and AzBio in quiet and noise allows for enhanced patient counseling and clinical interpretation of past, current, and future research studies assessing cochlear implant outcomes.

Objective To report speech recognition outcomes and processor use based on timing of cochlear implant (CI) activation. Study Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients A total of 604 adult CI recipients from October 2011 to March 2022, stratified by timing of CI activation (group 1: ≤10 d, n = 47; group 2: >10 d, n = 557). Main Outcome Measures Average daily processor use; Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) and Arizona Biomedical (AzBio) in quiet at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month visits; time to peak performance. Results The groups did not differ in sex ( p = 0.887), age at CI ( p = 0.109), preoperative CNC ( p = 0.070), or preoperative AzBio in quiet ( p = 0.113). Group 1 had higher median daily processor use than group 2 at the 1-month visit (12.3 versus 10.7 h/d, p = 0.017), with no significant differences at 3, 6, and 12 months. The early activation group had superior median CNC performance at 3 months (56% versus 46%, p = 0.007) and 12 months (60% versus 52%, p = 0.044). Similarly, the early activation group had superior median AzBio in quiet performance at 3 months (72% versus 59%, p = 0.008) and 12 months (75% versus 68%, p = 0.049). Both groups were equivalent in time to peak performance for CNC and AzBio. Earlier CI activation was significantly correlated with higher average daily processor use at all follow-up intervals. Conclusion CI activation within 10 days of surgery is associated with increased early device usage and superior speech recognition at both early and late follow-up visits. Timing of activation and device usage are modifiable factors that can help optimize postoperative outcomes in the CI population.

Importance Speech recognition outcomes with a cochlear implant (CI) are highly variable. One factor suggested to correlate with CI-aided speech recognition is frequency-to-place mismatch, or the discrepancy between the natural tonotopic organization of the cochlea and the electric frequency allocation of the CI electrodes within the patient's cochlea. Objective To evaluate the association between frequency-to-place mismatch and speech recognition outcomes in a large cohort of postlingually deafened adult CI users, while controlling for various clinical factors known to be associated with those outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study used data from a CI program at a tertiary medical center and included CIs from postlingually deafened adult CI users. After excluding patients whose data were not logged, patients with implantations occurring between 2016 and 2023 were included in the analysis. The data were extracted in November 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures Results of the Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) monosyllabic word recognition test measured in the CI-aided alone condition 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after activation served as the main outcome. The independent variables included frequency-to-place mismatch, electrode array type, mean modiolar distance, electrode position, age at implantation, biological sex, contralateral hearing abilities, time since CI activation (test interval), and daily device use. Results In 498 CIs from 447 postlingually deafened adults (mean [SD] age, 63.1 [17.1] years; 271 [54.4%] CIs with male users), frequency-to-place mismatch was negatively correlated with CI-aided speech recognition outcomes, but the association was only significant for precurved electrode arrays and not straight electrode arrays. In the linear mixed effects model for straight electrode arrays, only test interval (beta = 1.14 [95% CI, 0.90-1.38]) and daily device use (beta = 0.90 [95% CI, 0.42-1.38]) were correlated with the improvement of word recognition over the first year of device use. In the model for precurved electrode arrays, mismatch at 1500 Hz (beta = -0.011 [95% CI, -0.011 to -0.006]), scalar location (beta = 16.37 [95% CI, 9.01 to 23.74]), test interval (beta = 1.18 [95% CI, 1.18-1.41]) and daily device use (beta = 1.65 [95% CI, 1.15-2.14]) all were significantly associated with the improvement of word recognition over the first year of device use. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of postlingually deafened adult CI users, including both straight and precurved electrode arrays, daily device use and time since CI activation were found to be significantly associated with improved CI-aided speech recognition outcomes. Frequency-to-place mismatch at 1500 Hz and scalar location were associated with word recognition only for precurved arrays. These findings suggest that, for patients with straight arrays, any interference produced by frequency-to-place mismatch may be overcome by adaptation, which could be supported by daily device use. However, for patients with precurved arrays, daily device use may not be sufficient to completely overcome electrode placement factors, including scalar location and mismatch.

OBJECTIVE:To assess patient factors, audiometric performance, and patient-reported outcomes in cochlear implant (CI) patients who would not have qualified with in-quiet testing alone. STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective chart review. SETTING:Tertiary referral center. METHODS:Adult CI recipients implanted between 2012 and 2022 were identified. Patients with preoperative AzBio Quiet > 60% in the implanted ear, requiring multitalker babble to qualify, comprised the in-noise qualifying (NQ) group. NQ postoperative performance was compared with the in-quiet qualifying (QQ) group using CNC, AzBio Quiet, and AzBio +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ), Cochlear Implant Quality of Life scale (CIQOL-10), and daily device usage were also compared between the groups. RESULTS:The QQ group (n = 771) and NQ group (n = 67) were similar in age and hearing loss duration. NQ had higher average preoperative and postoperative speech recognition scores. A larger proportion of QQ saw significant improvement in CNC and AzBio Quiet scores in the CI-only listening condition (eg, CI-only AzBio Quiet: 88% QQ vs 51% NQ, P < .001). Improvement in CI-only AzBio +5 dB and in all open set testing in the best-aided binaural listening condition was similar between groups (eg, Binaural AzBio Quiet 73% QQ vs 59% NQ, P = .345). Postoperative SSQ ratings, CIQOL scores, and device usage were also equivalent between both groups. CONCLUSION:Patients who require in-noise testing to meet CI candidacy demonstrate similar improvements in best-aided speech perception and patient-reported outcomes as in-QQ, supporting the use of in-noise testing to determine CI qualification for borderline CI candidates.

Introduction: The hospice-in-place program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is available to patients and families who elect for hospice benefits and are too unstable to be transported for hospice care. The goal of this study was to assess the satisfaction of family members of patients who died while hospitalized at VUMC and received hospice-in-place compared to the families of patients who did not receive hospice care. Methods: Next-of-kin satisfaction was measured through the administration of qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, and transcripts were analyzed using an iterative inductive-deductive approach to develop a conceptual framework. Participants were also asked to respond to a 10-question satisfaction questionnaire. Results: Forty participants were enrolled: 20 next-of-kin of patients who received hospice-in-place and 20 next-of-kin of patients who passed without hospice. Factors influencing satisfaction were organized into a conceptual framework with three categories: individual-level factors, systems-level factors, and modifying factors. For the questionnaires, the hospice-in-place group had a mean satisfaction score of 4.54 (0.76) out of five, while the non-hospice group had a mean score of 4.14 (1.00). A comparison of the two groups’ responses did not show a statistically significant difference ( P = 0.06). Discussion: Quantitative findings of this study showed improved satisfaction but were unable to show a significant difference in satisfaction with hospice-in-place compared to traditional care. Questionnaire results suggest that both types of care yield high satisfaction scores and are successfully supporting patients and families. The conceptual framework also adds to the understanding of end-of-life experiences at VUMC.

Objectives: Surgical outcomes determine national ranking, reputation, and funding, and are often assessed with objective surgical risk calculators (SRCs). Surgeons’ assessments are not considered. This study aims to determine if surgeons or SRCs are more accurate in predicting outcomes. Methods: This prospective cohort study identified a surgeon’s assessment on a patient’s risk preoperatively. The patient’s risk was also calculated using the SRC. Predictions were compared to patient outcomes and to each other to assess whether surgeons or the SRC were more accurate. Results: Of the 101 patients included, 37 (36.6%) experienced a complication of any kind and 18 (17.8%) experienced a serious complication. Smoking resulted in a 2.49 times higher overall complication rate ( P = .04). Laryngectomy patients experienced the highest rate of complications ( P = .02) compared to those undergoing free flap reconstruction [odds ratio (OR) 0.9] or any other surgery (OR 0.26). Both surgeons and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) tool performed poorly on the prediction of the outcome of any complication, with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) of 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39-0.62] and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.47-0.70), respectively, which was not statistically significant ( P = .34). For the prediction of the outcome of serious complication, the AUC for surgeons and the ACS tool were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.41-0.69) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.46-0.74), respectively, which was not statistically significant ( P = .58). Conclusions: Neither validated risk calculators nor surgeons are accurate in predicting perioperative risk. The only risk factor that contributes to improving predictions for complications is preoperative smoking, although age and type of surgery are also significant predictors. Risk calculators may therefore not be appropriate metrics for assessing hospital performance. These findings can help guide preoperative counseling and may help in the development of more accurate predictive tools as the healthcare field continues to incorporate artificial intelligence into surgical planning.

Objective To assess the factors that drive a patient’s selection of cochlear implant (CI) manufacturer. Study Design Prospective survey study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients One hundred twenty-eight adult patients undergoing primary CI. Interventions Survey administered in the preoperative area. Main Outcome Measures Sources of information regarding CI manufacturer offerings, factors that were most important in deciding on a manufacturer, and manufacturer ultimately selected. Results One hundred twenty-eight patients were included (average age, 63.7 years; 97% White). The most cited source of information that patients used to choose a device was his/her audiologist (80.5% of patients). When asked his/her number 1 reason for choosing their CI manufacturer, the most commonly cited reason was technology (e.g., battery life, device pairing), regardless of manufacturer. When asked about specific technology offerings, hearing aid pairing was rated as the most important. The numbers 2 and 3 reasons for choosing a manufacturer were cosmetics/structure of the wearable portion of the device and audiologist recommendation of that manufacturer, respectively. The relative weight given to each of the top 3 reasons differed significantly across the three manufacturers (p = 0.017). Conclusions Audiologists are by far the leading source of information used by patients choosing a CI manufacturer. Patients prioritize technology most when choosing an implant manufacturer, but audiologist recommendation and the cosmetics and structure of the wearable device are also important. CI manufacturers should be mindful of patient priorities when designing and marketing their devices.

OBJECTIVE:To characterize the incidence of sigmoid sinus occlusion (SSO) following translabyrinthine (TL) surgery for posterior fossa tumor resection and determine the association with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective case series.SETTING:Tertiary referral center.METHODS:Patients undergoing TL surgery for vestibular schwannoma from 2012 to 2020 were included. Demographic data, medical history, preoperative tumor length and volume, and postoperative complications including CSF leak were recorded. Neuroradiology review of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine the presence or absence of flow through the sigmoid sinus.RESULTS:Of 205 patients undergoing TL, 21 (10.2%) experienced CSF leak postoperatively. Overall 56 (27%) demonstrated SSO on immediate postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. CSF leaks were more likely in those with SSO (19.6%) than those without SSO (6.7%; odds ratio, 3.54 [95% CI, 1.25-10.17]). Tumor volume and body mass index were not significantly associated with CSF leak. In total, 105 (51%) patients had some degree of sigmoid sinus thrombosis, but nonocclusive thrombosis was not associated with CSF leak.CONCLUSION:SSO after TL approaches is common and appears to be significantly associated with postoperative CSF leak development. Minimizing manipulation of the sigmoid sinus during TL surgery and compression after surgery may have a role in preventing CSF leak.

Objective: To investigate whether revision surgery with the same device results in a change in three key indicators of electrode positioning: scalar location, mean modiolar distance ((M) over bar), and angular insertion depth (AID). Methods: Retrospective analysis of a cochlear implant database at a university-based tertiary medical center. Intra-operative CT scans were obtained after initial and revision implantation. Electrode array (EA) position was calculated using auto-segmentation techniques. Initial and revision scalar location, (M) over bar, and AID were compared. Results: Mean change in (M) over bar for all ears was -0.07 mm (SD 0.24 mm; P = 0.16). The mean change in AID for all ears was -5 degrees(SD 67 degrees; P = 0.72). Three initial implantations with pre-curved EAs resulted in a translocation from Scala Tympani (ST) to Scala Vestibuli (SV). Two remained translocated after revision, while one was corrected when revised with a straight EA. An additional five translocations occurred after revision. Conclusions: In this study examining revision cochlear implantation from a single manufacturer, we demonstrated no significant change in key indicators of EA positioning, even when revising with a different style of electrode. However, the revision EA is not necessarily confined by the initial trajectory and there may be an increased risk of translocation.

OBJECTIVE:Compare incidence of sigmoid sinus wall abnormalities (SSWAs) and other radiographic abnormalities in patients with pulsatile tinnitus (PT) versus controls.STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective case-control.SETTING:Tertiary referral center.PATIENTS:Adults with PT and high-resolution computed tomography imaging were compared with adults undergoing cochlear implant workup including high-resolution computed tomography imaging.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Incidence of SSWA in PT cohort (n = 141) compared with control (n = 149, n = 298 ears). Secondary outcome measures included differences in demographics and in other radiographic abnormalities between cohorts.RESULTS:Patients with PT had a higher incidence of SSWA (34% versus 9%, p < 0.001) and superior canal dehiscence (23% versus 12%, p = 0.017) than controls. Spearman product component correlations demonstrated that ipsilateral PT was weakly associated with SSWA ( r = 0.354, p < 0.001). When SSWA was present in the PT cohort (n = 48 patients, n = 59 ears), in 31 cases (64.6%), the SSWA correlated with PT laterality (e.g., left SSWA, left PT); in 12 (25.0%), SSWA partially correlated with PT laterality (e.g., bilateral SSWA, right PT); and in 5 (10.4%), the SSWA did not correlate with PT laterality (e.g., right SSWA, left PT).CONCLUSIONS:For our patients with both PT and SSWA, the SSWA is likely a contributing factor in approximately 65% of cases. For a third of patients with PT and concomitant SSWA, the association between the two is either not causative or not solely causative. Surgeons counseling patients with PT and SSWA may be optimistic overall regarding sigmoid resurfacing procedures but must appreciate the possibility of treatment failure, likely because of untreated comorbid conditions.

Objectives: To evaluate risk for noise-induced hearing damage from otologic surgery-related noise exposure, given recent research indicating that noise levels previously believed to be safe and without long-term consequence may result in cochlear synaptopathy with subsequent degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons, degradation of neural transmission in response to suprathreshold acoustic stimuli, and difficulty understanding in background noise. Methods: A prospective observational study of surgeon noise exposure during otologic and neurotologic procedures was performed in a tertiary care center. Surgeon noise exposure was recorded in A- and C-weighted decibel scales (dBA, dBC), including average equivalent (LAeq) and peak (LApeak, LCpeak) levels and noise dose. Results: Sound measurements taken at the ear with continuous recording equipment during cadaveric otologic surgery demonstrated LAeq 80-83 dBA, LApeaks of 105 dBA, LCpeaks of 127 dBC, with noise doses of 0.9% to 6.7%. Sound level measurements during live surgery translabyrinthine approaches yielded lower LAeq of 72 to 74 dBA and lower noise doses compared with temporal bone lab measurements. Raw sound recordings during live surgery demonstrated narrow band, high frequency, high amplitude spikes between 4 and 12 kHz. Conclusion: Noise exposure to surgeons, staff, and patients in the operating room is acceptable per NIOSH recommendations. Temporal bone lab noise exposures are greater, possibly due to poorly maintained drill systems and lack of noise shielding from microscope bulk, yet are also within NIOSH recommended levels.

PURPOSE:Conversations about personal values and goals of care (GOC) at the end of life are essential in caring for patients with advanced cancer. However, GOC conversations may be influenced by patient and oncologist factors during transitions of care. METHODS:We electronically administered surveys to medical oncologists of inpatients who died from May 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. Primary outcomes included oncologists' knowledge of inpatient death, anticipation of patient death, and recollection of GOC discussions. Secondary outcomes, including GOC documentation and advance directives (ADs), were collected retrospectively from electronic health records. Outcomes were analyzed for association with patient, oncologist, and patient-oncologist relationship factors. RESULTS:For 75 patients who died, 104/158 (66%) surveys were completed by 40 inpatient and 64 outpatient oncologists. Eighty-one oncologists (77.9%) were aware of patients' deaths, 68 (65.4%) anticipated patients' deaths within 6 months, and 67 (64.4%) recalled having GOC discussions before or during the terminal hospitalization. Outpatient oncologists were more likely to report knowledge of patient death (P < .001), as were those with longer therapeutic relationships (P < .001). Inpatient oncologists were more likely to correctly anticipate patient death (P = .014). Secondary outcomes revealed 21.3% of patients had documented GOC discussions before admission and 33.3% had ADs; patients with a longer duration of cancer diagnosis were more likely to have ADs (P = .003). Oncologist-reported barriers to GOC included unrealistic expectations from patients or family (25%) and decreased patient participation because of clinical conditions (15%). CONCLUSION:Most oncologists recalled having GOC discussions for patients with inpatient mortality, yet documentation of serious illness conversations remained suboptimal. Further studies are needed to examine barriers to GOC conversations and documentation during transitions of care and across health care settings.

Objective We reviewed a cohort of patients with untreated sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) and examined the relationship between high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) in the non-VS ear and long-term hearing outcomes in the VS-affected ear. We hypothesized that the progression of HFHL is associated with accelerated hearing decline in sporadic VS. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary center. Patients We studied 102 patients with sporadic VS diagnosed from 1999 to 2015 with ≥5 years of observation (median, 6.92; interquartile range, 5.85–9.29). Sixty-six patients had AAO-HNS class A/B hearing at presentation and were included in analysis. Interventions Audiometry, serial magnetic resonance imaging for observation of VS. Main Outcome Measures Four-frequency pure tone average (PTA) and word recognition scores (WRS) in the VS-affected ear. Decline in high-frequency PTA (average of thresholds at 4000, 6000, and 8,000 Hz) was defined as ≥10 dB during the study period. Decline in WRS was defined as ≥10%. Results Compared with those without, patients with progressive HFHL in the non-VS ear were more likely to experience a decline in WRS in the VS ear (80% vs. 54%, p = 0.031). However, the same group showed no difference (52% vs. 41%, p = 0.40) in decline in PTA of the VS ear. Conclusions Patients with observed VS who experience progressive HFHL in the non-VS ear are more likely to experience significant declines in speech understanding in the VS-affected ear over time. Patients with a history of presbycusis may have an increased risk of losing serviceable hearing because of sporadic VS.

TITLE:Facial Paralysis in Skull Base Osteomyelitis - Comparison of Surgical and Nonsurgical Management.OBJECTIVE:To compare outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management in cases of facial paresis secondary to skull base osteomyelitis.METHODS:A 14 patients presenting with skull base osteomyelitis complicated by facial nerve paresis at a single tertiary referral center from 2009 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were treated with medical therapy with or without surgical intervention, consisting of mastoidectomy and debridement with or without facial nerve decompression. House-Brackmann (HB) Grade was the main outcome measure.RESULTS:A 14 patients (average age 68 years, range 58-82 years, 71% male) were analyzed, with 5 undergoing facial nerve decompression (36%), 5 undergoing mastoidectomy without facial nerve decompression (36%), and 4 undergoing medical management alone (28%). Of the 4 patients who underwent medical therapy alone, none experienced significant improvement in facial function. Of the 5 patients who underwent facial nerve decompression, 3 patients experienced improved facial function. Of the 5 patients who underwent mastoidectomy without decompression, 4 experienced improved facial function. There was no clear link between the severity of infection and the severity of facial paresis. When comparing HB score changes before and after treatment across groups, there was no statistically significant difference seen (p = 0.47).CONCLUSIONS:Mastoidectomy and debridement with or without facial nerve decompression may improve facial nerve outcomes when compared to isolated medical management, although differences were not of statistical significance. The best facial nerve recoveries occurred in patients undergoing surgery within 14 days of the onset of paralysis.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:4 - Case Series Laryngoscope, 133:179-183, 2023.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the predictors of remnant tumor regrowth and need for salvage therapy after less than gross total resection (GTR) of vestibular schwannoma (VS).STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective chart review.SETTING:Tertiary neurotologic referral center.PATIENTS:Patients who underwent VS resection between 2008 and 2019 either with GTR, near total resection (NTR), and subtotal resection (STR).INTERVENTIONS:Microsurgical resection, salvage radiosurgery.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Regrowth free interval, salvage free interval, tumor doubling rate.RESULTS:Three hundred eighty five cases (GTR = 236, NTR = 77, and STR = 71) from 2008 to 2019 were included. STR cohort had much larger and complex tumors with significant differences in tumor volume, ventral extension and brainstem compression (p  < 0.001). On single predictor analysis, tumor volume, ventral extension, brainstem compression as well as STR strategy was associated with significant increased risk of regrowth and need for salvage therapy. Multivariate analysis revealed STR strategy as significant predictor of regrowth (hazard ratio 3.79, p  < 0.0005). Absolute remnant volume and extent of resection (EOR) did not predict regrowth. A small proportion of cases (NTR = 4%, STR = 15%) eventually needed salvage radiosurgery with excellent ultimate local tumor control with no known recurrence to date.CONCLUSIONS:Conservative surgical strategy employing NTR or STR can be employed safely in large and complex VS. While there is increased risk of regrowth in the STR cohort, excellent local control can be achieved with appropriate use of salvage radiosurgery. No disceret radiologic or operative predictors of regrowth were identified.

Objective Over the last decade there has been a trend toward observation for small nongrowing vestibular schwannoma (VS). Even without tumor growth, patients commonly experience ipsilateral hearing decline, and hearing rehabilitation remains challenging. This study analyzes hearing and speech performance outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) in observed VS. Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Methods Chart review was used to include patients with observed VS who had undergone ipsilateral CI, pre- and postimplantation audiometry, and speech performance. Tumor size pre- and postimplantation was measured with volumetric analysis. Results Seven patients with ipsilateral VS and CI were identified. Preimplantation tumor volume was 0.11 to 1.02 cm3. Five subjects were implanted with a straight electrode and two with a perimodiolar electrode. The average preimplant pure tone average was 91.3 dB (range, 80-117 dB) and 61.2 dB (range, 12-118 dB) for the implanted and nonimplanted ears, respectively. In all subjects with at least 1 year of listening experience (n = 6), consonant-nucleus-consonant word scores improved at 6 months and 1 year in the CI-alone and bimodal listening conditions. AzBio scores in quiet also improved at 6 months and 1 year. Of subjects with serial pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, volumetric analysis demonstrated no tumor growth. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that CI is a successful option for subjects with small nongrowing VS. All subjects had improved performance postimplantation. VS may continue to be observed with serial magnetic resonance imaging given increasing conditionality among CI manufacturers and ability to assess cerebellopontine angle extension despite implant artifact.

OBJECTIVE:To report speech outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) for asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) and assess the influence of contralateral hearing. STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective review. SETTING:Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS:One hundred eighty-eight adults (mean age, 70 yr) undergoing CI for AHL from 2015 to 2020. Candidacy included pure-tone average (PTA) at least 70 dB hearing level and AzBio in quiet 60% or less in the implanted ear and AzBio in quiet greater than 40% in the contralateral ear. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:PTA; Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word, AzBio sentences scores; Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ). RESULTS:Mean preoperative PTA and AzBio in the implanted and contralateral ears were 85.2 and 68.1 dB hearing level and 24.7% and 69.2%, respectively. Mean CNC in the implanted ear increased from 18.3% preoperatively to 44.4% ( p < 0.0001) at 6 months and 49.3% ( p < 0.0001) at 12 months. Mean AzBio in the implanted ear improved from 24.7% preoperatively to 60.3% ( p < 0.0001) at 6 months and 64.3% ( p < 0.0001) at 12 months. Patients demonstrated significant improvement in all SSQ domains at 6 and 12 months. When comparing patients with preoperative contralateral AzBio greater than 60% versus 41% to 60%, no significant differences existed in postoperative CNC scores (6-mo: 47% versus 41%, p = 0.276; 12-mo: 51% versus 47%, p = 0.543). There were no significant differences in 6-month ( p = 0.936) or 12-month ( p = 0.792) CNC scores between patients with AHL (contralateral ear AzBio >40%) and 169 unilateral CI patients meeting the traditional Medicare criteria (contralateral ear AzBio ≤40%). CONCLUSION:CI recipients with AHL derive significant speech improvements, supporting individual ear consideration for CI candidacy and patient benefit outside of current Medicare criteria.