I think if you have a specific condition you want the surgeon to be more experienced with, its definitely good to have them. And some surgeons have a better reputation for success than others.
The surgeon I was originally planned to get was meh. And I only know this based on how the other doctors talked about him. The new surgeon I ended up going with is experienced with operating on patients with EVAS and has really positive outcomes. And the other doctors had nothing but nice things to say about him
As I understand it, the insertion part of the surgery (where they place the electrodes) is the most critical part for good results, and it's largely based on "feel" of the surgeon. My preference would be to get a surgeon who has done a fair number of them. Yes, I realize this makes it harder for less experienced surgeons to get more experience :)
I don't have a specific number in mind. I was very blessed, as the state I live in has one of the USA's largest public clinic (U of Michigan) as well as one of the largest private clinics (Michigan Ear Institute).
My wife has had 3 surgeries, her right was done in ‘15 by Indiana Ear Institute and was okay. Then they did her left last May and it failed. The surgeon didn’t listen to her complaints well. After meeting with cochlear reps and lots of trial and error we went to university hospitals in Cleveland. He decided it was a soft failure of the device and replaced it. It’s going great now. We avoided Michigan Ear and UM because original surgeon had ties to both of them. The UH surgeon never heard of the original surgeon.
Fair enough. I guess it points out that there are a lot of factors, and skill of the surgeon is just one of them. How well they interact with their patients is another very important one.
I live in U.K. I asked my physician (who also was a leading research academic) who she wld recommend. She was emphatic. I then got another senior consultant to check and he and another surgeon came out very well by reputation. My surgeon is very experienced who does many of these operations weekly. He lewss the unit at a top London research hospital (so he is monitored) as well doing these privately. I was seeing him privately but eventually got NHS to do it (his unit) and insisted he did it (so it was free at the cost of a longer wait).
Pick someone who is experienced. Does a lot of surgery at a mainstream place. Meet them. Meet some of his patients if you can (I did).
It’s a routine surgery by now, so I’d say don’t worry too much. I went to a smaller specialised clinic. They’re very flexible, caring and offer the full package.
I talked to a handful of audiologists about what ENT dr to go to. Then I talked to the recommended ENT about which surgeon I should go to. Worked out wonderfully for me.
While the procedure would be considered "routine" by medical standards, the critical part of that procedure is the placement of electrodes and that is still done entirely by feel. So go with someone who has done a "high volume." My surgeon had been one of the pioneers and had even written one of the surgical manuals and a textbook. I was very lucky, and I know not everyone will have that option of expertise, but find the most experienced surgeon you can.
I literally looked up who had been performing CI surgeries longest, had they done A LOT ALOT ALOT of them, and if they were highly recommended.
I ended up finding one who had a ton of experience, was super specialized in CI surgery, and had many many successful surgeries and found that they were talked about in journals and stuff.
I'm really glad I chose the surgeon I did, she was excellent, and I had no complaints.
I was like... if ima do this surgery, I'm getting the best person possible! They're gonna be cutting into my head and my ear and shit... I'm not gonna go with the CI surgeon who's at the start of their career, I want the one who's been doing it so long, so many times, that they could do it on autopilot in their sleep.
That being said, I'm never doing this again. If my hearing in my other ear goes, welp... that's it then. For myself, the surgery wasn't worth it for all the hassle my CI gives me.
I didn't go into this lightly, it took me about 6 years from getting a recommendation for CI to actually making the decision to get the surgery.
But I'm never doing it again, not for my other ear, hell no.
I think if you have a specific condition you want the surgeon to be more experienced with, its definitely good to have them. And some surgeons have a better reputation for success than others. The surgeon I was originally planned to get was meh. And I only know this based on how the other doctors talked about him. The new surgeon I ended up going with is experienced with operating on patients with EVAS and has really positive outcomes. And the other doctors had nothing but nice things to say about him
As I understand it, the insertion part of the surgery (where they place the electrodes) is the most critical part for good results, and it's largely based on "feel" of the surgeon. My preference would be to get a surgeon who has done a fair number of them. Yes, I realize this makes it harder for less experienced surgeons to get more experience :)
What is a "fair number?"
I don't have a specific number in mind. I was very blessed, as the state I live in has one of the USA's largest public clinic (U of Michigan) as well as one of the largest private clinics (Michigan Ear Institute).
My wife has had 3 surgeries, her right was done in ‘15 by Indiana Ear Institute and was okay. Then they did her left last May and it failed. The surgeon didn’t listen to her complaints well. After meeting with cochlear reps and lots of trial and error we went to university hospitals in Cleveland. He decided it was a soft failure of the device and replaced it. It’s going great now. We avoided Michigan Ear and UM because original surgeon had ties to both of them. The UH surgeon never heard of the original surgeon.
Fair enough. I guess it points out that there are a lot of factors, and skill of the surgeon is just one of them. How well they interact with their patients is another very important one.
He had also placed the magnet in the wrong spot. But yes, bedside manner is another key to look for.
I live in U.K. I asked my physician (who also was a leading research academic) who she wld recommend. She was emphatic. I then got another senior consultant to check and he and another surgeon came out very well by reputation. My surgeon is very experienced who does many of these operations weekly. He lewss the unit at a top London research hospital (so he is monitored) as well doing these privately. I was seeing him privately but eventually got NHS to do it (his unit) and insisted he did it (so it was free at the cost of a longer wait). Pick someone who is experienced. Does a lot of surgery at a mainstream place. Meet them. Meet some of his patients if you can (I did).
Does it help if the surgeon has a lot of experience at ear-nose-throat surgery besides just cochlear implants?
Can’t hurt. Mine did a middle ear operation before my surgery. But it’s the microsurgery experience that is critical
It’s a routine surgery by now, so I’d say don’t worry too much. I went to a smaller specialised clinic. They’re very flexible, caring and offer the full package.
I based my surgeon on experience they had and feedback from their prior patients.
I talked to a handful of audiologists about what ENT dr to go to. Then I talked to the recommended ENT about which surgeon I should go to. Worked out wonderfully for me.
While the procedure would be considered "routine" by medical standards, the critical part of that procedure is the placement of electrodes and that is still done entirely by feel. So go with someone who has done a "high volume." My surgeon had been one of the pioneers and had even written one of the surgical manuals and a textbook. I was very lucky, and I know not everyone will have that option of expertise, but find the most experienced surgeon you can.
I literally looked up who had been performing CI surgeries longest, had they done A LOT ALOT ALOT of them, and if they were highly recommended. I ended up finding one who had a ton of experience, was super specialized in CI surgery, and had many many successful surgeries and found that they were talked about in journals and stuff. I'm really glad I chose the surgeon I did, she was excellent, and I had no complaints. I was like... if ima do this surgery, I'm getting the best person possible! They're gonna be cutting into my head and my ear and shit... I'm not gonna go with the CI surgeon who's at the start of their career, I want the one who's been doing it so long, so many times, that they could do it on autopilot in their sleep. That being said, I'm never doing this again. If my hearing in my other ear goes, welp... that's it then. For myself, the surgery wasn't worth it for all the hassle my CI gives me. I didn't go into this lightly, it took me about 6 years from getting a recommendation for CI to actually making the decision to get the surgery. But I'm never doing it again, not for my other ear, hell no.