Safety and patient experience with transtympanic electrocochleography

Objectives/Hypothesis: Transtympanic electrocochleography (t-ECOG) is a sensitive diagnostic instrument used for Meniere's disease. It is sensitive by virtue of the recording electrode's position on the promontory of the cochlea where the signals are generated. There is concern about the invasive nature of t-ECOG in comparison to extratympanic recording techniques. The purpose of this study was to examine the safety issues, complications, and patient experience with t-ECOG. Study Design: Observational study utilizing retrospective chart review and patient survey. Methods: The medical records of 205 patients who underwent t-ECOG were reviewed for complications. Complications included persistent tympanic membrane perforation, hearing loss, otitis media, otitis externa, ear canal injury, hemotympanum, and pain. An additional 36 patients undergoing t-ECOG were surveyed on subjective measures such as pain during topical anesthesia of the tympanic membrane, during transtympanic placement of the needle electrode, and during the test procedure and overall experience with t-ECOG. Results: There was one case of a nonhealed, persistent perforation in the setting of acute otitis media directly as a result of t-ECOG. Two patients developed otitis media, and three patients had ear pain for up to 5 days. All 36 patients felt the procedure to be tolerable with minimal discomfort. Conclusions: Transtympanic electrocochleography may be performed with good patient acceptance and infrequent complications.