Authors' objectives:

To analyze the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of BCI in children. To assess the economic evaluation studies on bilateral cochlear implants in children. To describe the use of this technology in the different regions of Spain.

Authors' recommendations: The poor quality of the published studies do not allow for establishing BCI as more effective than unilateral implantation in children. Therefore, it is necessary to develop higher quality studies to assess whether the BCI provides benefits in terms of improved auditory and language development, education and psychosocial development, cost (or cost-utility) and quality of life. This procedure is considered low risk, even in children of young ages. The estimated cost-utility ratio is high in both adults and children, though it has been obtained from utility data of studies outside our country. In Spain, depending on the region of residence, variability has been detected regarding access to this health service. The results of the BCI and prognosis depend on appropriateness of patient selection and the multidisciplinary care team.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2007

URL for published report: http://www.madrid.org/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=filename%3DImplante+coclear+bilateral+en+ni%C3%B1os.pdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1202744298567&ssbinary=true

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Unidad de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias

Contact Address: Elena Andradas Aragones, Unidad de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias, Agencia Lain Entralgo, C/ Gran Via, 27, 8a, ES-28013 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 3089418; Fax: +34 91 3089458;

Contact Name: elena.andradas@salud.madrid.org

Contact Email: elena.andradas@salud.madrid.org

Copyright: <p>Unidad de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias (UETS)</p>