Rajindra Hospital performs first cochlear implant surgery

Government Medical College (GMC) & Rajindra Hospital here has carried out its first cochlear implant surgery on a four-year-old child.

Prof Dr Sanjeev Bhagat, Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), who led the surgical team, said the surgery was performed on February 26 and the patient was discharged today.

The surgery, which lasted for one and a half hours marked a significant advancement in providing specialised hearing rehabilitation services in the region, said Dr Bhagat.

Cochlear implant surgery is an outpatient procedure that places an electronic device under the skin behind the ear to restore hearing for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. Unlike hearing aids that amplify sound, the implant bypasses damaged inner ear hair cells, directly stimulating the auditory nerve to send sound signals to the brain. Dr Bhagat said the surgery was conducted under the expert mentorship of Prof (Dr) Surinder Kumar Singhal from the GMCH -32, Chandigarh.

Dr Bhagat said the milestone was achieved under the leadership of Prof Raminderpal Singh Sibia, Director-Principal, GMC, Patiala, whose vision and administrative support have strengthened tertiary-level healthcare services in the institution. Dr Sibia said the hospital had formally launched its cochlear implant programme, offering new hope to children with congenital or acquired severe hearing loss.