Surgical duration of cochlear implantation in an academic university-based practice.

Objective: Establish the time to safely and efficiently perform cochlear implantation (CI) in a university-based academic center. Study Design: Case series with chart review. Setting: Academic neurotologic referral center. Patients: 424 patients who underwent CI surgery between 2002 and 2010. Intervention: Unilateral, bilateral or revision CI using commercially available devices approved for use in the United States. Main outcome measures: mean surgical duration (SD) and mean total operative room time (TORT). Results: Overall mean SD for all 424 patients was 83+/-30 min (min) whereas the mean TORT was 135+/-56 min. The mean SD for unilateral CI was 84+/-18 min for the first implant and 82+/- 22 min for the second implant (p=0.55). The SD for primary and revision CI was 83+/-18 min and 85+/-36 min, respectively (p=0.51). The mean SD for pediatric and adult CI was 83+/- 21 min and 83 18 min, respectively (p=0.92). The mean SD without resident assistance was 74+/-14 min whereas with the assistance of a resident the mean SD was 84+/-20 min (p=0.02). When ossification was encountered the mean SD was 90+/-32 min compared to 82 19 min when absent (p <0.001). An association was found between TORT or SD, and the year of surgery, presence of ossification and the involvement of an assistant. Conclusion: In a university-based academic center, CI surgery can be safely and efficiently performed, supporting future cost-effectiveness analysis of its current practice. Published by Elsevier Inc.