Workshop on rare hearing condition concludes at PGI
The second and concluding day of the inaugural ABI (Auditory Brainstem Implant) workshop, organised by the Department of ENT and Neurosurgery at PGIMER, saw enthusiastic response from participants.
The day began with a cadaveric demonstration of brainstem implant surgery, led by Padma Shri Dr Mohan Kameswaran and Prof Robert Behr from Germany.
Surgery requires team of specialists
Either a person is born with this condition or it develops later due to tumour. To perform a surgery, you require a team of specialists, including a neurotologist, a neurosurgeon, an anaesthesiologist and an audiologist. — Padma Shri Dr Mohan Kameswaran
Dr Mohan who has successfully performed the first ABI surgery in Asia shared, “It is a very rare condition, so to say about only 1 to 2 per cent of hearing-impaired patients require ABI. Either a person is born with this condition or it develops later due to tumour. To do this surgery, you require a team of specialists such as a neurotologist (ear surgeon), a neurosurgeon, an anaesthesiologist (or neuroanaesthesiologist) and an audiologist.” An audiologist is a person who performs testing during the procedure to make sure the device functions well.
Dr Behr, an expert in the field, answered as many questions as he could during his session. Explaining the function of the device implant, he said, “At the moment, it’s the only technology with direct interface between a device and brain. Most of the hearing-impaired patients can be cured by cochlear implants, which are placed in the ear and attached to the nerve endings.”
Dr Behr first performed ABI in 1997 and perform surgeries in different countries apart from Germany. According to him, a good successful surgery of the implant is important, but rehabilitation and follow-ups are equally important for making patients hearing-enable. “The motive of these workshops and demonstration all around India or world is important so that ABI is accessible in every region,” he added.
The hands-on session provided attendees with an invaluable opportunity to observe cutting-edge surgical techniques in action, which are crucial for enhancing patient outcomes in auditory brainstem procedures.
Prof Ramandeep Virk, organising chairman, emphasised the importance of the training, stating, “Hands-on experience is fundamental in mastering complex procedures like ABI. The workshop is an essential step towards equipping our surgeons with the skills needed to improve the lives of patients with hearing loss.”
Talking about the success rate, ENT specialist Dr Ameet Kishore, Apollo Hospital, Delhi, explained, “Any kind of hearing is better for someone who was earlier unable to hear. Most of the patients respond well to the device implant, from understanding language to developing speech. Even in the least case scenario, patients detect noises directed at them, which can help them function better than earlier in day-to-day life. It’s a sensitive surgery, which requires precision to place a device in 3.3mm of region.”
Subsequent to the demonstration, surgeons from leading institutions such as AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Jodhpur, SGPGI Lucknow, and Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai, engaged in practical training sessions designed to refine their skills and knowledge in ABI procedures.
Audiologists from various regions across the country participated in the workshop.
ABI surgery at a private facility costs around Rs 16-17 lakh. The operation cost is only Rs 1-1.5 lakh, but it’s the device that is costly. Dr Mohan said, “One device can last up to 10 years and more.” MED-EL, one of the sponsors of the event, is a medical device company, and shared how research is continuing in the field as they are producing third-generation brainstem implant devices and they are completely different from its second generation in terms of technology.
