Nagpur: Orange City Hospital & Research Institute (OCHRI) pioneered in commencing regular Cochlear Implant Surgeries to provide much needed advanced succor to needy children from Central India who were unable to hear from birth. Parents of children born with hearing defects thus had a new ray of hope. Such hearing-impaired children in the city and region now look forward to this new bionic ear implant which not only allows them to hear but also speak normally. The implant, an electronic device, helps patients pick up auditory signals by stimulating the hearing nerve.
On 25.11.2017, AOI, Vidarbha Branch led by Dr. Nitin Deosthale & Dr. Samir Choudhary and AMS, Nagpur led by Dr. Pramod Gandhi & Dr. Rajesh Atal in association with Orange City Hospital & Research Institute organized a one-day Live Workshop on “Cochlear Implant Surgery” to commemorate successful 84 pioneering CI Surgeries at OCHRI. Surgeries were performed in OCHRI OT and the live projection was done in Jaivik Hall, OCHRI. Large number of ENT brethren from Vidarbha attended this workshop and benefitted with this new modality of surgery. 5 cases were demonstrated by pioneer in cochlear implant surgery in India Padmashree Dr. Milind Kirtane. He also detailed about the intricacies of Cochlear implant surgery step by step and answered the queries of audience in this live workshop. Dr. Milind Kirtane said that “Early detection and intervention in children with hearing disability is responsibility of medical fraternity. Cochlear implant is a team effort and will give results only to those who understand the program, cooperate and take lessons by audiologists and training of speech therapists. Only putting the costly implants goes down the drain if there is no follow up of the learning process”.
The surgeries are conducted at OCHRI and assisted by Dr. Nandu Kolwadkar & Dr. Sameer Choudhary. Nine Cochlear Implant surgeries were successfully conducted by OCHRI Cochlear Implant Team. This is a dream project of Dr. Nandu Kolwadkar which was commended by Udaybhaskar Nair, Chairman, Ravi Nair Hospitals Private Limited. Tata Trusts and Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Office provides grants for this noteworthy OCHRI project Geeta since the implant is too costly @Rs.6,00,000/-. OCHRI’s Project Geeta is managed impeccably at OCHRI by Dr.Vidya Nair, Director( Quality & Grants)-RNHPL ably assisted by Smt.Manjiri Damle, Coordinator, OCHRI CIP .
Parents who had lost hope looking at the exorbitant cost of implant were thankful to TEAM OCHRI, TATA Trusts and Maharashtra Chief Minister Office for delivering this boon to their kids. Dr. Milind Kirtane and Dr. Jeevan Vedi, Professor & Head, ENT- IGGMC commended the well-coordinated service of Anesthetists, OT Nursing and Paramedical staff at state of art futuristic operation theatre complex of OCHRI.
Dr. Anup Marar, Director-OCHRI conveyed that with this 8th series, in which 9 back to back Cochlear Implant Surgeries were done; OCHRI has successfully conducted total 84 Cochlear Implant Surgeries so far.
On behalf of OCHRI family, Dr. Usha Nair, Director (Medical) -RNHPL complimented Dr. Nandu Kolwadkar Convener–OCHRI Cochlear Implant Program (CIP), Dr. Sameer Choudhary-ENT Surgeon, Dr. Kuldeep Sukhadeve -Pediatrician, Dr. Smita Harkare, Dr.Neeta Deshpande, Dr. Anita Pande & Dr. Sweety Pasari-Anesthetists, Dr. Ashish Disawal, Dr.P. Shinde, Neelu Somani, Mayuri K & Vishal Hiremath- Audiologists, Dr. Milind Pande- Pathologist, Dr. Nishikant Lokhande & Dr. Prashant Shende- Radiologists, Dr. Sandeep Kharode, Dr. Priyanka Wankar, Dr. Kavita Dhurvey, Dr. Anit Prakash, Dr. Noorul Ameen, Sunil Sure, Narottam Awasthi, Sr.Jessy, Sr. Ambika Nair, Sr. Kavita Bodile, Sr. Kavita Godphode, Mrs. Manjiri Damle, Vishal Kapse, Smt.Durga Joshi, Pankaj Wadaskar and Avinash Ganar who led respective teams for this well-coordinated success of this program.
