Bengaluru: At Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road, a procedure was successfully performed on a 23-year-old Nigerian woman with profound hearing loss. Dr. H K Susheen Dutt, a Senior Consultant specializing in ENT, cochlear implants, and skull base surgery, led the team in implanting two hearing devices simultaneously. This intricate surgery, lasting nine hours, was completed without complications.
The patient, referred to as Lina, was discharged five days after the operation and has since been undergoing auditory verbal training in Nigeria, showing promising progress. Lina had enjoyed a normal, happy life until 2020, when a bout of viral fever caused her to lose hearing in her right ear, followed by her left ear, resulting in complete hearing loss. The severity of her condition severely impacted her daily life, prompting her and her family to travel from Nigeria to Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru for specialized treatment.
Upon thorough evaluation, she was diagnosed with Bilateral Profound Sensory Neural Hearing Loss caused by damage to the inner ear, resulting in severe hearing loss in both ears, rendering her unable to hear even the loudest of sounds. Given the seriousness of her condition, the team of doctors proposed Simultaneous Bilateral Cochlear Implantation Surgery as the best course of action. This involved the placement of two implantable hearing devices simultaneously in a single surgical session.
Dr H K Susheen Dutt, Senior Consultant – ENT Specialist, Cochlear implant and skull base surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, “While high-gain hearing aids are often effective for severe hearing loss cases, Lina's condition surpassed the capabilities of even the most advanced devices. Despite attempting various high-gain aids, no significant improvement was noted. Her strong desire for improved hearing, coupled with her recent normal hearing history, indicated potential success with cochlear implant surgery. We discussed the procedure with her family, emphasizing the promising outcomes and gaining their consent for bilateral surgery. Typically, cochlear implantation is done in one ear at a time, but we opted for simultaneous bilateral implants for Lina due to the advantages they offer: a more natural hearing experience, enhanced sound localization, and improved speech comprehension, especially in noisy environments. This approach also minimized the need for multiple surgeries, considering the considerable travel and logistical challenges involved. Three weeks post-surgery, Lina's cochlear implants were activated.”
She is currently undergoing auditory verbal training in Nigeria, showing remarkable progress. Her previous experience with normal hearing facilitates her rehabilitation, making the training more effective and her adjustment smoother. Cochlear implantation is a highly safe procedure, boasting a success rate exceeding 98% for suitable candidates like Lina.
Mr. Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru, added, “With our hospital’s expertise in advanced medical procedures and our team's dedication to excellence, this successful surgery symbolizes our commitment to providing transformative healthcare experiences for patients seeking medical advice from anywhere in the world. We are honoured to have played a part in restoring Lina's ability to hear and communicate. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for all facing similar challenges. At Fortis Bannerghatta, we remain dedicated to empowering lives through compassionate care and the expertise by our highly skilled experts.”