P R E S S   R E L E A S E

Surgeons at The Chinese University of Hong Kong have performed two ground-breaking cases of Auditory Brainstem Implantation (ABI) to restore hearing in patients with bilateral nerve and sensory deafness.

The Department of Surgery's Division of Otorhinolaryngology and Neurosurgery announce the success of two Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) operations performed recently in the Prince of Wales Hospital. Two young women with tumours on both hearing nerves had their tumours removed and were successfully implanted on the 21st and 22nd October, 1999. The devices were switched on 30th November. These were the first two cases in which 24 Channel ABI devices have been implanted in Asia following its initial successful trial in Europe earlier this year. The Prince of Wales Hospital is one of only two centres in Asia capable of performing the ABI surgery.

The Auditory Brainstem Implant is a device surgically positioned into the patient's brainstem to partially restore the patient's hearing.  Patients with total hearing loss resulted from hearing nerve problems on both sides, in particular from tumours, are suitable candidates. Two teams of surgeons: ear specialists and neurosurgeons perform the surgery. The first step is to remove the tumour.  Then, the device is precisely positioned in the patient's brainstem, guided by the surgeons' intimate knowledge of the anatomical structures and a sophisticated monitoring system. The implanted array of electrodes is linked to the external speech processor through an antenna where electrically stimulated signals are transmitted to the brain, effectively passing on simulated hearing sensation to the hearing centre achieving. Intensive monitoring of the patients is essential to the success of the surgery as the brainstem is one of the most important parts of the brain controlling breathing and the heart beat. Switching on of the device requires similar techniques to the switching on of a cochlear implant that involves direct stimulation of the nerve endings in the cochlear. Programming of the device and rehabilitation of the patients are undertaken by both the audiologists and speech therapists in the team.

ABI represents the union of the pinnacle of high technology and sophistication in surgical techniques and the Chinese University attained the success with substantial experience in cochlear implantation.  The Prince of Wales Hospital has performed over 70 cases in the past 4 years for which it enjoys an international reputation. Its surgeons have also initiated Cochlear Implant Programmes in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and five different centres in China. The recent introduction of implantation in the very young children in Hong Kong (age less than 2 years)- one of the few centres in the world capable of taking on such young candidates has proven to be a great success. With appropriate training, family and educational support, these children may be brought up in a normal environment as a normal child.

The successful ABI surgery not only represents a milestone achievement, but also highlights the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and further emphasize the capability of local medical professionals to provide the highest standard of medical care to the people in Hong Kong.