In one of the many medical miracles of this week, a hospital in Mumbai has performed cochlear implant surgery on a patient while she was awake. It not only gave her hope of getting her ability to hear back again but also ended her challenge, which she had to deal with for the last three years.
The surgery conducted at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in Peddar Road, was done on a 19-year-old girl from Worli, who lost her hearing due to anti-TB treatment. She underwent the innovative procedure under local anesthesia.
It was conducted by a team of ENT surgeons led by Dr Brajendra Baser who was assisted by Dr Umendra Agihari and Dr Divya Prabhat along with anesthesiologist Dr Rajani.
The patient was brought to tears as she heard sounds for the first time in three years on the operating table, she was discharged in under 24 hours.
Cochlear implants are essential for individuals who are completely deaf or have lost their hearing due to aging or illness.
Dr Baser emphasises that this advancement significantly reduces hospital stays and costs, while also enhancing recovery and the accuracy of electrode placement.
Elderly patients with hearing loss, particularly those with diabetes and heart conditions, often avoid cochlear implants due to the risks associated with anesthesia.
This new approach changes that by offering a superior solution for patients over 60 with significant nerve loss compared to conventional hearing aids, and this can be seen with ability of the woman in her late teens to hear again.