First Sentio Hearing Implant in the North West of England has been performed at Countess of Chester Hospital

A successful implantation of the Sentio™ System in an adult patient has been performed at the Countess of Chester Hospital in the last week, making it the first hospital in the North West of England to perform this groundbreaking procedure in an adult.

The procedure took just over an hour and was performed under general anaesthesia, with plans to offer it under local anaesthesia for suitable patients in the future.

The Sentio System is a state-of-the-art hearing implant that offers patients with damage in the middle ear and ear canal a completely invisible and infection-free solution to repair their hearing.

Previous options have involved a permanent skin penetrating implant, however the Sentio System is an implant with a sound transmitter that is placed under the skin in the scalp, which in turn also reduces the risk of infections or skin breakages, which is particularly beneficial for younger patients, such as those with active lifestyles and higher aesthetic expectations.

Anand Muddaiah, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Clinical lead for Bone Conduction Hearing Implants (BCHI) at the Countess of Chester Hospital said: “We are thrilled to be the first in the North West to implant the Sentio System in an adult patient. This new technology offers a promising future for patients with hearing loss – cutting down their risk of future infections and giving them greater freedoms and confidence to lead active and healthy lifestyles.

“Sentio has only been approved in Europe for six months, so to be offering this procedure already at our local hospital marks a significant milestone for us and we are excited about the increased choice this now provides for our patients.”

The Countess of Chester Hospital has been providing high-quality Bone Conduction Hearing Implant (BCHI) services for nearly two decades. Since 2022, the hospital has expanded its offering to include a comprehensive range of bone conduction and middle ear implants, not only ensuring that patients have access to the latest in hearing technology but also providing an option for more patients who previously only had one implant to choose from.

This latest achievement is the result of a collaborative effort from a dedicated team of audiologists, theatre staff, anaesthetists, and surgeons, who worked tirelessly to ensure the procedure’s success.

The new offering for patients comes as the local NHS Trust – which runs the Countess of Chester Hospital, Ellesmere Port Hospital and Tarporley War Memorial Hospital – continues to focus on improving patient care and experiences, as part of its long term plan and commitment to transform local hospital care.