First cochlear implant to be surgically inserted today

A 16-year-old girl will become the first patient to have a cochlear implant surgically inserted in Malta during an operation scheduled for this morning.

Holding such an operation is expected to see the number of patients receiving this kind of implant double from five to 10 a year, the head of Mater Dei Hospital's Ears, Nose and Throat Department, Mario Said, said.

The two-hour operation, designed to establish hearing in completely deaf people, consists in implanting a small electronic device that bypasses damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerves to reinstate hearing.

"It gives them serviceable hearing and they are able to lead a relatively normal life," Mr Said explained.

He said the latest indications showed the operation should be done as early as possible, even when a child was still one, so he is given the opportunity to acquire speech.

Today's operation will be carried out by British surgeon Kevin Green, from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Mr Said, who will start performing the operations locally, trained in the UK and Belgium. He said having the surgery performed in Malta was important because patients - and their parents - had to travel to the UK a number of times for the operation and follow-ups.

Speaking during a course about cochlear implants organised by the Malta Institute for Medical Education, Health Minister Joe Cassar said "this was an important moment for the Maltese health service"

"At this moment in time, we felt that our first priority was the well-being of our patients and families," he said.