Background: The inserted cochlear implanted electrode is covered at the site of the round window or\ncochleostomy to prevent infections and leakage. In a surgically hearing preservational concept, low intracochlear\npressure changes are of high importance. The aim of this study was to observe intracochlear pressure changes due\nto different sealing techniques in a cochlear model.\nMethods: Cochlear implant electrode insertions were performed in an artifical cochlear model and the\nintracochlear pressure changes were recorded in parallel with a micro-pressure sensor positioned in the apical\nregion of the cochlea model to follow the maximum amplitude of intracochlear pressure. Four different sealing\nconditions were compared: 1) overlay, 2) overlay with fascia pushed in, 3) donut-like fascia ring, 4) donut-like fascia\nring pushed in.\nResults: We found statistically significant differences in the occurrence of maximum amplitude of intracochlear\npressure peak changes related to sealing procedure comparing the different techniques. While the lowest\namplitude changes could be observed for the overlay technique (0.14 mmHg �± 0.06) the highest values could be\nobserved for the donut-like pushed in technique (1.79 mmHg �± 0.69).\nConclusion: Sealing the electrode inserted cochlea can lead to significant intracochlear pressure changes. Pushing\nin of the sealing tissue cannot be recommended.
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