Cochlear implant surgery and perioperative dizziness is associated with utricular hyperfunction

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a common perioperative complication after cochlear implantation (CI). To date, the exact cause behind this phenomenon remains unclear. There is recent evidence to suggest that otolith function, specifically utricular, may be affected shortly after CI surgery, however whether these changes are related to patient symptoms has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether CI surgery and perioperative dizziness is associated with changes in utricular function. METHODS: We performed an observational study on patients undergoing routine CI surgery. Utricular function was assessed using the Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV), and perioperative dizziness was deter..