Our surgeons broadcast three live ear surgeries to audiologists across NSW, and our team presented a Hearing Implants Australia patient for the cochlear implant surgery.
On 13 October 2025, Dr Phillip Chang, Dr Tim Matthews, Dr Nigel Biggs and Dr Sean Flannagan hosted their annual Live Surgery Day at St Vincent’s, broadcast live to audiologists across NSW.
It’s a rare chance for audiologists to see inside the operating theatre, and to understand what happens to their patients after they’re referred.
Three surgeries, one day
The surgeons performed and talked through three procedures, each showcasing a different part of the ear’s anatomy:
- Cochlear implant: for people with severe hearing loss who no longer get enough benefit from hearing aids.
- Osia bone conduction implant: for people with conductive or mixed hearing loss, or single-sided deafness, where sound is sent through the bone to the inner ear.
- Stapedectomy: a procedure for otosclerosis, where one of the tiny bones of the middle ear is replaced with a prosthesis to restore sound conduction.
Knowing who to refer
Before each surgery, the surgeons talked through the patient’s case: their hearing history, their test results, and why surgery was the right option for them. Seeing real cases helps audiologists recognise when one of their own patients might benefit, and when to refer for an assessment.
A Hearing Implants Australia patient in theatre
This year, Dina Mavris and Lilly Leaver presented the patient for the cochlear implant surgery, a Hearing Implants Australia patient, talking audiologists through their journey to an implant.
During the surgery, Dina completed intraoperative testing using Cochlear’s Nucleus SmartNav system. These measurements check that the implant is working and that the electrode is well placed while the patient is still in theatre. They also give our audiologists valuable information ahead of switch-on, which for this patient took place the very next day.
Thank you
Thank you to the surgeons and theatre staff at St Vincent’s, to our patient for generously sharing their journey, and to every audiologist who tuned in. We look forward to the next Live Surgery Day.
Have a patient who might benefit from an implant? See our referral guidelines or contact us to discuss.
