Hi-tech implant surgery on deaf boy at AIIMS

NEW DELHI - Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have successfully performed a hi-tech implant surgery on a three-and-a-half-year-old deaf boy.

This is for first time that the new generation cochlear implant surgery has been conducted in a government hospital in the country, AIIMS officials said.

Aditya was implanted with a modern, state-of-the-art fifth generation cochlear implant last month. Cochlear implant is the only option available to children and adults who fail to benefit from hearing aids.

The surgery was carried out by a team of surgeons lead by associate professor Rakesh Kumar and included Kapil Sikka. The surgery was performed under the supervision of professor of ENT and AIIMS Director R.C. Deka.

“The surgery was successfully conducted for the first time in India in a public hospital. It is the most recent technology in the cochlear implant design called as Nucleus 5 of Australian make,” said Deka, who pioneered the cochlear implant surgery in India.

Explaining the benefits of new technology, Deka said: “It is provided with features which are better than their previous models. The new model is much thinner and tougher. The system is water-resistant and has a remote controlled processor. This device will help the hearing impaired children in better speech understanding.”

So far AIIMS has performed 320 cochlear implants. These include 284 surgeries among children and adults, including patients from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Mauritius.