Hearing preservation after intracochlear steroid injection using a cochlea-catheter directly before cochlea-implantation

Preservation of structure and residual hearing are among the most important challenges of today's and future cochlear implantation. In addition to atraumatic electrodes and an optimized surgical technique, there are also pharmacological approaches to achieve these goals. Problems of local application are the variable permeability of the round window membrane and the low diffusion within the cochlea. Special drug delivery procedures are needed to enable pharmacotherapy in apical regions and to preserve the low frequency residual hearing in the future. The application of a drug also in more apical regions can be achieved safely with a cochlear catheter.