Download PDF
J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2019; 80(02): 203-208
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1679891
Invited Review
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Auditory Brainstem Implantation: An Overview

Nicholas L. Deep
1   Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
,
Baishakhi Choudhury
2   Department of Otolaryngology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
,
J. Thomas Roland Jr.
1   Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

19 December 2018

31 December 2018

Publication Date:
14 February 2019 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

An auditory brainstem implant (ABI) is a surgically implanted central neural auditory prosthesis for the treatment of profound sensorineural hearing loss in children and adults who are not cochlear implant candidates due to a lack of anatomically intact cochlear nerves or implantable cochleae. The device consists of a multielectrode surface array which is placed within the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle along the brainstem and directly stimulates the cochlear nucleus, thereby bypassing the peripheral auditory system. In the United States, candidacy criteria for ABI include deaf patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) who are 12 years or older undergoing first- or second-side vestibular schwannoma resection. In recent years, several non-NF2 indications for ABI have been explored, including bilateral cochlear nerve avulsion from trauma, complete ossification of the cochlea due to meningitis, or a severe cochlear malformation not amenable to cochlear implantation. In addition, growing experience with ABI in infants and children has been documented with encouraging outcomes. While cochlear implantation generally remains the first-line option for hearing rehabilitation in NF2 patients with stable tumors or post hearing preservation surgery where hearing is lost but a cochlear nerve remains accessible for stimulation, an ABI is the next alternative in cases where the cochlear nerve is absent and/or if the cochlea cannot be implanted. Herein, we review ABI device design, clinical evaluation, indications, operative technique, and outcomes as it relates to lateral skull base pathology.

Keywords

auditory brainstem implant - hearing loss - auditory prosthesis - electric stimulation - auditory nerve - neurofibromatosis type 2

Financial Material and Support

Internal departmental funding was utilized without commercial sponsorship or support.


 

  • References

  • 1 Hitselberger WE, House WF, Edgerton BJ, Whitaker S. Cochlear nucleus implants. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1984; 92 (01) 52-54
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 House WF, Hitselberger WE. Twenty-year report of the first auditory brain stem nucleus implant. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2001; 110 (02) 103-104
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Colletti V, Carner M, Miorelli V, Guida M, Colletti L, Fiorino F. Auditory brainstem implant (ABI): new frontiers in adults and children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005; 133 (01) 126-138
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Grayeli AB, Bouccara D, Kalamarides M. , et al. Auditory brainstem implant in bilateral and completely ossified cochleae. Otol Neurotol 2003; 24 (01) 79-82
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Colletti V, Carner M, Miorelli V, Guida M, Colletti L, Fiorino FG. Cochlear implantation at under 12 months: report on 10 patients. Laryngoscope 2005; 115 (03) 445-449
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Colletti L. Beneficial auditory and cognitive effects of auditory brainstem implantation in children. Acta Otolaryngol 2007; 127 (09) 943-946
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Colletti L, Shannon RV, Colletti V. The development of auditory perception in children after auditory brainstem implantation. Audiol Neurotol 2014; 19 (06) 386-394
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 House Research Institute. FDA approves clinical trial of auditory brainstem implant procedure for children in U.S.”. Available at: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130122101334.htm
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Lundin K, Stillesjö F, Nyberg G, Rask-Andersen H. Self-reported benefit, sound perception, and quality-of-life in patients with auditory brainstem implants (ABIs). Acta Otolaryngol 2016; 136 (01) 62-67
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Fernandes NF, Goffi-Gomez MV, Magalhães AT, Tsuji RK, De Brito RV, Bento RF. Satisfaction and quality of life in users of auditory brainstem implant. CoDAS 2017; 29 (02) e20160059
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Buchman CA, Teagle HF, Roush PA. , et al. Cochlear implantation in children with labyrinthine anomalies and cochlear nerve deficiency: implications for auditory brainstem implantation. Laryngoscope 2011; 121 (09) 1979-1988
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Warren III FM, Wiggins III RH, Pitt C, Harnsberger HR, Shelton C. Apparent cochlear nerve aplasia: to implant or not to implant?. Otol Neurotol 2010; 31 (07) 1088-1094
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Song MH, Kim SC, Kim J, Chang JW, Lee WS, Choi JY. The cochleovestibular nerve identified during auditory brainstem implantation in patients with narrow internal auditory canals: can preoperative evaluation predict cochleovestibular nerve deficiency?. Laryngoscope 2011; 121 (08) 1773-1779
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Roehm PC, Mallen-St Clair J, Jethanamest D. , et al. Auditory rehabilitation of patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 by using cochlear implants. J Neurosurg 2011; 115 (04) 827-834
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Peng KA, Lorenz MB, Otto SR, Brackmann DE, Wilkinson EP. Cochlear implantation and auditory brainstem implantation in neurofibromatosis type 2. Laryngoscope 2018; 128 (09) 2163-2169
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Neff BA, Wiet RM, Lasak JM. , et al. Cochlear implantation in the neurofibromatosis type 2 patient: long-term follow-up. Laryngoscope 2007; 117 (06) 1069-1072
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Pai I, Dhar V, Kelleher C. , et al. Cochlear implantation in patients with vestibular schwannoma: a single United Kingdom center experience. Laryngoscope 2013; 123 (08) 2019-2023
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Carlson ML, Breen JT, Driscoll CL. , et al. Cochlear implantation in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2: variables affecting auditory performance. Otol Neurotol 2012; 33 (05) 853-862
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Brackmann DE, Hitselberger WE, Nelson RA. , et al. Auditory brainstem implant: I. Issues in surgical implantation. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1993; 108 (06) 624-633
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Colletti V, Sacchetto L, Giarbini N, Fiorino F, Carner M. Retrosigmoid approach for auditory brainstem implant. J Laryngol Otol Suppl 2000; ••• (27) 37-40
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Colletti V, Shannon RV. Open set speech perception with auditory brainstem implant?. Laryngoscope 2005; 115 (11) 1974-1978
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Colletti V, Shannon RV, Carner M, Veronese S, Colletti L. Complications in auditory brainstem implant surgery in adults and children. Otol Neurotol 2010; 31 (04) 558-564
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Ebinger K, Otto S, Arcaroli J, Staller S, Arndt P. Multichannel auditory brainstem implant: US clinical trial results. J Laryngol Otol Suppl 2000; ••• (27) 50-53
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Schwartz MS, Otto SR, Shannon RV, Hitselberger WE, Brackmann DE. Auditory brainstem implants. Neurotherapeutics 2008; 5 (01) 128-136
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Otto SR, Brackmann DE, Hitselberger WE, Shannon RV, Kuchta J. Multichannel auditory brainstem implant: update on performance in 61 patients. J Neurosurg 2002; 96 (06) 1063-1071
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Toh EH, Luxford WM. Cochlear and brainstem implantation. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2002; 35 (02) 325-342
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Colletti V, Shannon R, Carner M, Veronese S, Colletti L. Outcomes in nontumor adults fitted with the auditory brainstem implant: 10 years' experience. Otol Neurotol 2009; 30 (05) 614-618
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Behr R, Colletti V, Matthies C. , et al. New outcomes with auditory brainstem implants in NF2 patients. Otol Neurotol 2014; 35 (10) 1844-1851
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Puram SV, Barber SR, Kozin ED. , et al. Outcomes following pediatric auditory brainstem implant surgery: early experiences in a North American Center. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016; 155 (01) 133-138
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Wilkinson EP, Eisenberg LS, Krieger MD. , et al; Los Angeles Pediatric ABI Team. Initial results of a safety and feasibility study of auditory brainstem implantation in congenitally deaf children. Otol Neurotol 2017; 38 (02) 212-220
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar