Cochlear implant surgery done on 10 kids free of cost

NAGPUR: Padmashree recipient ENT surgeon Dr Milind Kirtane performed 10 cochlear implants free of cost on children with hearing disability at Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI) on Sunday. Till date, Dr Kirtane has performed 35 implants in four slots as part of OCHRI’s project Geeta funded by Chief Minister’s Health Relief Fund and Tata Trusts.
Another 15 such surgeries will complete the target of 60 implants under the project.These 15 surgeries will be performed in February 2017.
The fact that more than 50% children came from places outside the city, is a pointer to the project’s popularity. “This time paediatric patients came all the way from places like Amravati, Latur and Beed,” said DrAnup Marar, director OCHRI. Most of the patients come from slums and their families cannot afford this surgery which can cost up to Rs7.5 lakh.
Dr Kirtane was assisted by ENT surgeons — Dr Nandu Kolwadkar and Dr Sameer Chaudhary — from OCHRI.
For best results, cochlear implant surgery should be performed at the age of one year. If not, the patient should be operated upon before three years of age. However, most of the patients who approached OCHRI for surgery were above four years, Kirtane had pointed out during his last visit.
Dr Kolwadkar said, “This time we have made an effort to ensure that most of the children undergoing surgery were below three.”