Rainbow Children’s Hospital Launches ACENT, Chennai’s First Dedicated Pediatric ENT Centre
Chennai: Rainbow Children’s Hospital has launched the Advanced Centre for Pediatric ENT Care (ACENT) in Chennai, establishing what the hospital describes as the city’s first dedicated centre focused on the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of hearing, airway and sleep disorders in newborns, infants, children and adolescents.
The new facility has been set up to address a range of pediatric ENT conditions, including hearing loss, airway abnormalities, recurrent ear infections and sleep-disordered breathing. According to medical experts, these conditions can affect a child’s speech, learning, growth and overall development if left undiagnosed or untreated.
One of the key features of the centre is the use of ultra-thin 1.2 mm pediatric endoscopes for airway assessment in newborns and young children. Rainbow Children’s Hospital stated that ACENT is the first centre in Chennai to offer this technology, allowing airway examinations to be conducted without sedation in an outpatient setting.
The centre recently treated a one-week-old infant who was admitted with severe airway obstruction, feeding difficulties and dependence on oxygen support. Following a specialized airway intervention, the infant reportedly showed improvement in breathing and feeding and was discharged within a few days.
Speaking at the launch, Gunasekhar C, Facility Director, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Chennai, said the centre has been designed to provide specialized ENT care for children through a combination of advanced technology and multidisciplinary medical expertise.
Highlighting the importance of early intervention, Dr. Nithya R, Consultant – Pediatric ENT, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Chennai, noted that many ENT-related conditions in children are often overlooked despite their potential impact on hearing, speech, sleep, learning and overall development. She emphasized that early diagnosis can improve treatment outcomes and help children receive appropriate care at the right time.
ACENT is supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric anesthesiologists, neonatologists, pediatricians, and specialists from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The centre offers services such as hearing rehabilitation, cochlear implants, airway surgery, complex ENT procedures, and minimally invasive treatments for sinus disorders and head, neck and ear swellings.
The facility is also equipped to perform advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE), airway endoscopy and bronchoscopy, aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of airway, hearing and sleep-related disorders.
The launch event was attended by playback singer Saindhavi and Dr. Suresh Kumar M, Senior Consultant and Coordinator, ENT, KIMSHEALTH, Thiruvananthapuram, along with the hospital’s leadership and clinical teams.
