Medical and Radiologic Issues in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

Cochlear implantation has become a mainstay of treatment for profoundly deaf children. Experienced implant surgeons now have the skills to safely manage many medical and radiological factors that once precluded implantation. This chapter focuses on both experience- and evidence-based management principles related to specific challenging medical and radiologic conditions. Knowledge and mastery of these challenging situations will allow for safe intervention in complex children, minimizing risk while maximizing outcomes, which is particularly relevant as criteria for cochlear implantation expand.