Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, has launched first-of-its-kind knee replacement program, offering specialized partial and total knee replacement care with the use of advanced robotic technology, The Navio Surgical System. The Robotic system has an advanced computed program which relays precise information about the knee with 3D mapping. The use of next generation robotics with smaller incision will result in less pain and lesser blood loss. Precision in bone cutting and better position of implant with alignment gives a near normal knee motion for both total and partial knee replacement. The program which comes as a package designed for the new normal due to the COVID pandemic, which comprises of home diagnostic tests / assessments, Apollo 24*7 app consultations, and post-surgical home care made available for the patients. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Osteoarthritis is a rising health concern in India, with a prevalence rate between 22 – 39%. To overcome pain and limitations in mobility of such patients, Joint Replacement is the solution. The outcome of surgeries can be improved by leveraging technology. Today, robotic technology has come a long way, helping perform some of the most complicated surgeries with precision, and Apollo Hospitals has always been at the forefront of using technology in healthcare”. Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Our vision has always been to bring the most advanced medical technology to India to benefit our patients. We are continuing on this path with the launch of the knee replacement program, assisted by robotic technology. At Apollo Hospitals, the patient is at the center of all our efforts in providing accessible and affordable world-class treatment, and the introduction of the NAVIO surgical system is in furtherance of this objective”. Dr. Sanjay Pai, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Apollo Specialty Hospitals at Jayanagar, Bangalore commented, “Today, we need to accept the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay, hence we have developed the robotic assisted total and partial knee replacement programme. The NAVIO surgical system is highly reliable and used in over 500 centers worldwide. One of the major advantages of using robotic technology for total or partial knee replacement surgery is that smaller incisions imply lesser pain and also quick recovery which is definitely the need of the hour in Ortho care. The idea here is to ensure that the patients recover quickly and return to normalcy. Recovery is rapid, with lesser hospitalization, faster mobilization and rehabilitation. Our team of trained nursing professionals will ensure complete care and closed monitoring in the comfort of the patient’s home.” Mr. Davison P K, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Hospitals Karnataka region commented, “The comprehensive knee replacement program we have designed, will now be accessible to patients, especially at times where most of them hesitate to come to the hospital, given the fear of COVID-19. At Apollo, while ensuring absolute safety measures for our patients, we also want to provide care and comfort.”

Apollo Hospitals Group has partnered with Tata Medical and Diagnostics (Tata MD) to launch ‘TataMD CHECK’, the world’s first CRISPR Cas-9 based diagnostic test, to help increase testing for COVID-19 across the country. Apollo Hospitals, along with its subsidiary, Apollo Diagnostics will offer the TataMD CHECK testing in the National Capital Region from the first week of December 2020 and shortly thereafter, it will be rolled out across all major centres, namely Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune, followed by a second phase at o ther cities. TataMD CHECK, powered by FELUDA, is the world’s first Covid19 diagnostic test based on the DNA genome editing tool CRISPR Cas-9. The FELUDA diagnostic technology platform has been developed by Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (CSIR- IGIB). TataMD CHECK has been approved by Indian Council of Medical Research and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). It is a viral detection test with high accuracy and a quick result turnaround time. Apollo Hospitals Group is the first healthcare institution in the country to adopt the test. This significant tie-up with Apollo Hospitals kicks off the efforts of TataMD Check to align with healthcare institutions including hospitals, diagnostic chains and other healthcare facilities. During the next few weeks, Apollo Hospitals Group will ensure the availability of TataMD Check testing in eight hospitals in phase 1 and the location-wise quantities will be ramped up based on the demand and need for expanding this to other centres. The primary care clinics and Diagnostics Lab and Collection centre network of Apollo Diagnostics in all these cities will also support the collection, home collection as well as testing to support this initiative. The nationwide network of Apollo Health & Lifestyle Ltd has over 100 Clinics, 75 Labs and over 600 collection centres in 15 states across the country. These will be progressively utilised as needed to enhance the reach and convenience to patients. Till date the Apollo Hospitals Group has conducted over 2,50,000 COVID Tests and has treated over 75,000 patients for COVID-19. Tata MD will help train the key diagnostic clinicians and staff at Apollo Hospitals and Apollo Diagnostics on new technology and effective testing protocols in the next few weeks. With its inherent advantages, TataMD Check is expected to help deliver quicker results and higher throughput of testing volumes as there are no minimum batch sizes limitations. Continuous quality control of kits using sensors as well AI-based result capture and analysis tool will help laboratories with image-based results, with full traceability of the sample and results that are accessible anywhere resulting in an enhanced patient experience. Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals (AHEL) and Managing Director, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AHLL) said, “The addition of Tata MD check as part of the testing arsenal will be a boost to the ongoing efforts that the country has been waging against this pandemic. We at Apollo are happy to partner with the Tata Group in what is potentially a revolutionary advancement in the COVID Testing Landscape. Apollo Hospitals Group has always been at the forefront in pioneering initiatives, adoption of new technologies for delivery of care, testing and prevention and we are happy to further the cause of Atmmnirbhar Bharat in providing the launch pad for adoption of this indigenously developed testing as a new addition to the array of COVID Testing. To create seamless anytime anywhere access for booking, individuals can download Apollo 24/7 app with the benefit of availing reports within 2hours.” “We are proud to partner with Apollo Hospitals which is acclaimed for its pioneering and unique position in India’s healthcare fabric. Apollo Hospitals has also been at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to fight this global pandemic at multiple levels including advocating of preventive efforts, aggressive testing and holistic care. We believe that the association with Apollo Hospitals will catalyse the rapid adoption of TataMD Check as the efficient and preferred testing option as we begin to resume our lives again,” added Mr. Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO & MD, Tata Medical and Diagnostics. The process of collecting patient samples, RNA extraction and amplification remains same in TataMD CHECK as in other viral detection tests. However, the use of CRISPR-Cas9 Technology ensures quicker results due to a more agile process and AI-based automated result detection methodology. TataMD Check test kits are being manufactured at a quality-controlled production facility near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, performed the first Fast Track Total Knee Replacement in South India. Fast Track Total Knee Replacement is a daycare knee replacement surgery, devoid of hospital stay, minimal aftereffects of anaesthesia, pain, trauma, infection, above all speedy recovery and being back to normal routine in a couple of days. The revolutionary surgery was performed on a known diabetic 65-year-old female patient, by a team led by Dr K J Reddy, Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, on November 2nd, 2020. The patient was discharged the same evening after five hours of post-surgery observation, she has fully recovered since and is going about with her routine with ease and great comfort. Total knee Replacement (TKR) is a commonly performed but advanced orthopaedic procedure for severe, disabling knee pain due to Knee Arthritis. The excruciating knee pain often limits patient mobility and daily routine, warranting Total Knee Replacement. The surgery involves replacement of surfaces of the damaged knee joint with high quality metal implant, which restores the patient ability to walk pain free as before. Being a major procedure, it requires 3 or 4 days hospital stay traditionally. The latest advances in perioperative management revolutionises Total Knee Replacement, reduces hospital stay to less than a day, enables the patient to be on his legs quickly and embrace an independent, superior quality life, says Dr K J Reddy. The patient who underwent the first Fast Track Total Knee Replacement, Mrs Rita Verma, was unable to walk properly and perform her routine, due to severe pain in left knee because of degenerative osteoarthritis. The minimal trauma and being able to return home same day appealed to her and family and they opted for the Fast Track procedure. Being a known Diabetic, she underwent thorough pre-anaesthetic evaluation and after being deemed to be fit for surgery, was admitted early in the morning of November 2nd. Post an uncomplicated and successful surgery, she was kept under observation for five hours and was discharged by 2 pm the same day. Later at home, she was constantly monitored for the next two days by a nurse with the aid of all vital monitoring equipment and monitors, installed by Apollo Home Care Team at her home. A Physician and Physiotherapist visited her on both the days while the E-ICU facility at Apollo Hospitals ensured round the clock observation by Senior Doctors and critical care team from the hospital. The round-the-clock and high quality care coupled with physiotherapy enabled her to walk pain free the very next day. The Fast Track surgery with enormous patient benefits is set to revolutionise knee replacements in India, in no time the traditional knee surgery may become redundant. Treating surgeons and support teams being adept with latest techniques, aided by state-of-the-art E-ICU facilities, can bring about a rapid transition. The Fast Track Total Knee Replacement is a sophisticated procedure currently performed only at a few centers having the requisite infrastructure and proficient specialist teams. It involves using advanced surgical techniques performed with miniature instruments while administering regional anesthesia limited to the leg region. Miniature instruments ensure minimal incision, that coupled with regional anesthesia significantly diminishes pain, trauma, complications, infections and side effects generally associated with a surgery, besides aiding in the patient recouping fast. The post-surgery recovery period spent at home with suitable and manageable precautions, substantially reduces scope of infection. The homely ambience, home cooked food and staying amidst dear ones, accelerates recovery by manifold. However, the treating surgeon needs to be extra cautious while selecting the patient for this procedure, as patients over 80 years of age and those with co-morbidities need to be thoroughly assessed and only those found to be suitable should be considered for the new procedure.

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata has successfully performed Eastern India’s first breast and ovarian cancer risk reduction surgery on a 37-year-old homemaker and brought a sigh of relief to the family besides setting a record of sorts. Mrs. Mousumi Roy, a resident of Kuikota in Midnapore district, lost her mother due to breast cancer when she was only 10 years old. She later lost her maternal aunt to the same disease as well. Incidentally, her father also died of cancer. Earlier in January 2020, she was diagnosed with cancer in her right breast and underwent a breast conservation surgery in which only the cancerous tumour was removed and the remaining breast tissues and the contours of the breast was retained. She was treated by Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti, Consultant Onco-Surgeon, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata. She also got her BRCA test done, which came positive (high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer). Patient underwent left sided nipple sparing mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue while keeping the nipple intact) followed by an immediate reconstruction of the breast using an implant and her own muscles. Simultaneously, a laparoscopic bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy was also done to remove her both ovaries and fallopian tubes. “I have treated my cancer like just what it is, a potentially killer disease. My single-minded focus was to rid myself of it completely. My husband has been a pillar of support.” said Mrs. Mousumi, a post-graduate in English Literature and the mother of a seven-year-old girl. Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti, Surgeon and Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata had performed the surgery on her right breast in January 2020 (after which the patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy under Dr. Indranil Ghosh, Consultant Medical Oncologist and adjuvant radiation under Dr. Tanweer Shahid, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata). Dr. Chakrabarti again led the team for the eight hour-surgery on the left breast and for removal of the ovaries. The team also comprised of Dr. Ramna Banerjee (Consultant Gynaecologist), Dr. Saptarshi Bhattacharya (Consultant Plastic Surgeon) and Dr. Tapas Kar (Surgical Oncologist). “Ms. Roy’s BRCA report had shown that there was over 90 per cent risk of her developing breast cancer. But after the surgeries, it has come down to less than five per cent, which is lower than the risk faced by the average Indian woman of her age,” said Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti. Renowned Cancer Surgeon and Director of Surgical Oncology at Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital, Dr. Shaikat Gupta, stressed on the multi-modal treatment that could be offered to the patient only because Apollo is a multispeciality hospital. “In special and difficult cases like this, the treatment modalities are discussed in what we call a tumour board that comprises medical, surgical and radiation oncologists. Doctors of other specialities are invited as a particular case demands.” The course of treatment in this case was also seconded by the National Cancer Grid of India. “Most women, especially in the young age group, are not willing to go for risk reducing surgeries. But Ms Mousumi can serve as an example for them,” said Dr Indranil Ghosh, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital. Mr. Rana Dasgupta, CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, had a special word of praise for Mrs. Mousumi. “In eastern India, we are equipped to perform the most advanced surgeries and medical procedures. We thank Ms. Mousumi Roy for bestowing her trust in us. Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital can boast of many firsts.” Echoing him, Dr. Syamasis Bandyopadhyay, Director of Medical Services, AGHL, lauded the patient while also emphasising the need to diagnose and treat cancer early. “I hope the women who are at risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer would draw inspiration from Ms. Roy and speak to their clinicians about the options at their disposal to conquer cancer rather than keeping the disease under wraps and lending it further potency,” he said.

Apollo Hospitals Group partners with India Medtronic Private Limited to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for advanced stroke management for the first time in India. The USFDA approved AI platform for stroke diagnosis has been validated by clinical trials. The AI software will provide automated analysis in less than two minutes as against currently accepted imaging practices for diagnosis of stroke that takes up to one hour to complete, thus enabling faster decision making in stroke where every second counts. Through this partnership, Medtronic will help in bringing in stroke technologies, technical expertise, training and comprehensive stroke management with the integration of AI platform at the Apollo Institute of Neurosciences at ten locations in Apollo Hospitals across the country, taking stroke management to the next level by standardizing stroke diagnosis and empowering clinicians to make faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Stroke is a major global public health problem with 1 in 4 people over the age of 25 years suffering a stroke during their lifetime, according to data from the World Stroke Organization. The fourth leading cause of death today, around 1.8 million people in India suffer from a stroke every year and it is only early treatment that can reduce morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to improve the treatment and management of stroke using digital technologies. Today, AI platforms are improving patient care and outcomes every day, and at Apollo Hospitals, we are proud to be at the forefront of the AI revolution in healthcare. This partnership brings together Apollo Hospitals’ clinical expertise, AI platform and stroke technologies from Medtronic to transform stroke treatment in the country. With this partnership, Apollo Hospitals continues to be the torchbearer in adoption of digital technology as one of the first hospital groups in South Asia to use AI in an organized and scalable manner for comprehensive stroke management. Also, with the introduction of 640 slice CT Scan having a capability of doing cerebral angiogram, the patient will definitely gain by means of advanced technical adaptations in stroke treatment. AI has been a boon for the healthcare industry and has transformed many different aspects from drug development to diagnostics and clinical medicine and surgery. It has simplified the lives of patients, doctors and hospital administrators, taking over tasks that are routine, saving time and costs, freeing the doctors to give more time to their patients. It has helped to reduce the chances of errors in diagnostic processes and medical errors due to heavy caseloads.” Mr. Madan Krishnan, Vice President, Medtronic Indian Subcontinent said, “Medtronic has been leading the fight against acute ischemic stroke (AIS) – enabling our physician partners with meaningful stroke technologies to empower their expertise. There is a huge unmet need with regards to stroke awareness and therapy in India. Medtronic has been partnering with hospitals to create centers of excellence in the country , so that patients are identified faster, and they receive the best treatment. We are aiming to address the current treatment gaps in stroke with our innovative technologies, aiming at reducing door to needle time, thereby potentially improving outcomes for patients. Our partnership with Apollo Hospitals will further our goal of creating awareness and providing quicker access to quality healthcare for stroke patients in India.” The AI platform uses artificial intelligence to create high quality, advanced images from non-contrast CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, and MRI diffusion and perfusion scans, helping hospitals to improve time-critical triage or transfer decisions and facilitate better patient outcomes. The stroke team will be able to remotely access the brain scans of stroke patients with AI analysis on mobile app or email for faster decision making without losing time. Other benefits include physicians being able to evaluate the patients remotely and visit in-person only when the AI analysis of the scans suggest indication for treatment. This will help to reduce unnecessary exposure in a COVID situation. The AI system will also generate a valid document proof to support the clinician’s decision taken on the course of treatment for a stroke patient. Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The Apollo Hospitals – Medtronic partnership will bring about a paradigm shift in acute stroke management, building and establishing a world-class stroke program with a uniform stroke protocol across the group. Trials have shown success in achieving substantially larger clinical benefits through the use of AI technology and the Apollo – Medtronic partnership will support early diagnosis and effective clinical decision in stroke patients leading to the shortest treatment time for better clinical outcomes. While early treatment leads to the best clinical outcome, a trial of stroke patients treated up to 6 to 24 hours with use of AI technology lead CTP or MRI scans showed better clinical outcomes for the patients. The partnership also envisages a structured training and education program to further improve the clinical efficiency of the Apollo stroke clinicians and support team.” The Apollo Hospitals and Medtronic partnership to build comprehensive stroke management will lead to multiple patient benefits. The use of AI platform in stroke management will reduce diagnosis time from 60 mins to 2 mins. The time saved is brain cells saved as every minute of delay leads to 2 million more brain cells dying. A stroke at odd hours of night will not result in patient losing time for an expert review to begin treatment. Time between onset of stroke to treatment is significantly reduced which can help in improving outcome, reducing hospital stay and saving costs for the patient not just on hospitalization but also on follow-up and rehabilitation. Every patient will receive appropriate treatment as per the indication and not lose any treatment opportunity. Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The Apollo Institute of Neurosciences has revolutionized high-end neurological care in the country. With a legacy of innovation and excellence, it has been working at the cutting-edge of neuro-imaging, neuro-intensive care and medical and radiation oncology services to deliver outcomes that match the leading neurology institutions in the world. A highly skilled multidisciplinary neurosciences team dedicates itself to enhancing patient care through cutting edge technology and the partnership with Medtronic will elevate the quality of stoke care with world-class AI-powered stroke treatment.” Apollo Hospitals’ comprehensive stroke center equipped with 24/7 emergency, a team of specialized experts, CT, MRI facility, and capability of specialized surgical and interventional therapies will have treatment taken to the next level through AI. With AI technology, stroke diagnosis will be standardized and scans will be available remotely within no time to the stroke physician. The technology will increase utilization of IV-tPA (intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke). It will also increase detection of LVO (large vessel occlusion) which accounts for up to 38% of acute ischemic strokes and utilization of mechanical thrombectomy (physical removal of the clot in the brain by a special device threaded through the blood vessels). The partnership will optimize the stroke protocol and create a strong regional tele-stroke network with the power of AI. The AI technology enabled advanced stroke management will be launched at the Apollo Institute of Neurosciences at Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru; Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai; Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai; Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad; Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi; Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Jayanagar, Bengaluru; Apollo Hospitals, Sheshadripuram, Bengaluru; Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysore; and Apollo Hospitals, Indore.

The Apollo Hospitals Group has launched Post-COVID Recovery Clinics across the hospital network. The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics will address the rising number of patients who have recovered from COVID but are suffering from the mid and long term persistent effects of the infection. Over 50% of COVID patients suffer from problems that include breathlessness, chest pain and heart issues, joint pains, vision problems, and memory loss months after contracting the novel coronavirus. The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics is manned by a team of specialists including Neurologists and Immunologists to help patients deal with the aftermath of COVID-19 and restore them to health. In Chennai, the Post-COVID Recovery Clinic will be conducted at the Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai. Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “We had realized early on that addressing the COVID challenge would require a comprehensive response plan and had launched Project Kavach in March, which integrated all aspects from patient education, screening and assessment, testing, to infrastructure for quarantine and treatment. With COVID-19 showing that it has lingering effects in patients who have recovered from the virus infection, it became necessary to add the element of post-recovery care to help recovered patients return to their normal life. We are launching these clinics across the group network in various cities. The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics would be a one-stop shop for patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but still have persistent medical effects and symptoms. The clinics will enable us to provide coordinated care without the patient having to run around to different specialists and avoid duplication of testing that a patient might otherwise undergo.” Dr. V. Ramasubramanian, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, said, “Many patients who have recovered from COVID-19 at our hospitals have been contacting us for symptoms that they are having, and not knowing where to go for them. To address these health issues faced by patients who have recovered from COVID-19, we have started the Post-COVID Recovery Clinics. These exclusive clinics for post-COVID care will help patients to connect to the specialised care that they need. We have laid down the guidelines and have trained the clinicians to ensure that patients get the correct treatment. The clinics will help patients recover completely from the consequences of COVID-19 and return to living life as before COVID.” COVID-19 impacts almost all the vital organs in the body. Apart from acute events like stroke and myocardial infarction, chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension are part of the post-COVID syndrome. A number of sudden deaths in post-COVID patients have been reported and most of these are attributed to acute cardiac events. Dr. Sundararajan, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Apollo Hospitals said, “COVID-19 attacks not just the lungs but other organs in the body and leaves behind lingering health issues. Some of the manifestations occur weeks and months after the treatment for acute phase is completed and patient has recovered and impact the well-being of individuals beyond the acute phase. While longer-term problems are more common among patients who have been hospitalized, even patients who have recovered from a mild case can suffer from the prolonged effects of the virus. Some of the long-term effects may be severe and disabling in nature. This specialized clinic will enable us to monitor symptoms of patients on an ongoing basis and delivery timely medical attention.” Dr. Suresh, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals said, “Before COVID-19, we were already facing a tsunami of NCDs that were responsible for over 70% of the deaths. The post-COVID syndrome is adding to this disease load and if not addressed with a special focus, will lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality beyond the pandemic with a large number of chronically ill individuals who have recovered from COVID. The specialised clinics will prevent acute components of the post-COVID syndrome from progressing further and effectively manage the chronic situations which form part of the post-COVID syndrome through a patient-focused, comprehensive, tele-consultation and clinic based program.” The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics will initially be launched in Apollo Hospitals treating COVID-19 in Chennai, Madurai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mysore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Delhi, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The clinics will be manned by a dedicated team consisting of a Family Physician assisted by a nurse.

Mr. Dadasaheb Patil, a 56-year-old resident of Sangli, Maharashtra, successfully underwent a heart transplant surgery at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai. The heart was harvested from a 31-year-old cadaver donor and transported through a green corridor specially. The transport of the donor heart from Lower Parel to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai took just 25 minutes for covering a distance of 45 kilometres. The Heart Transplant team led by Dr. Sanjeev Jadhav, Consultant – Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, transplanted it into the recipient at Apollo Hospitals. The patient was suffering from ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy in which his heart’s ability to pump blood had decreased, which further lead to heart failure. Heart transplant was the only chance to give him a new lease of life. Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai said “The patient came to us 8 months back for a bypass surgery. During investigation, it was found that his heart function was only 25%. The surgery couldn’t take place then due to the COVID situation and he had to go back to his hometown, Sangli. In the following months, his heart functioning kept dropping and finally came to a situation where he needed complete life support and inotropes, which are medicines that increase the force of the heart’s contractions. He was admitted to multiple hospitals prior to his transplant as he encountered repeated heart failure. This was a race against time. As soon, as we were notified about the donor in Mumbai, the green corridor was activated, donor heart was harvested, transported and successfully transplanted. This also been a scientific challenge where doctors and nurses are risking their own lives and taking chances to save patients life. We are happy that the heart transplant was uneventful and the patient has recovered well.” Dr. Sanjeev was also assisted by a team of experts Dr. Shantesh Kaushik (Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeon), Dr. Sachin Sanagar (CVTS Surgeon), Dr Kamal Singh (CVTS), Dr Gunadhar Padhi (Intensivists), Dr Haridas Munde (Anaesthetist) and Dr Saurabh Tiwari (Anaesthetist). The heart transplant surgery took 90 minutes, and the patient was shifted to the ICU after completion, for observation. At Apollo Hospitals we have dedicated beds for our heart transplant patients in a well-equipped transplant ICU with trained nursing staff which helps us to provide the best care. All protocols were also put in place to prevent any risk of COVID infection. Mr. Dadasaheb Patil, the recipient of the donor heart said, “I had recently missed an opportunity for a transplant from a possible donor from Pune. For me, it was a battle against time as I had already suffered multiple episodes of heart failure. Thankfully, we found a donor and I am thankful to the Apollo Hospitals team for ensuring that the entire transplant went through smoothly. I am grateful to the donor’s family and the team of doctors for giving me this second chance at life!” Mr. Santosh Marathe, COO & Unit Head, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, said, “We are thankful to the authorities for their cooperation and support in creating the green corridor that made the transplant possible. With the rising cases of cardiovascular disease in the country, we need a robust system for prevention, early diagnosis, and management and treatment. In a short span of three years, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai has been recognised as one of the most advanced transplant centres in Western India with successful Liver, Kidney, Heart & Bone Marrow Transplants being performed by a dedicated team of specialists. We have a very competent clinical team which accesses Patients through Heart Failure Clinic and which can undertake very complex preoperative & post-operative care management for such cases.”

In a rare case, an 86-year-old lady who herself was a doctor, became one of the oldest cadaveric donors in Delhi. A resident of South Delhi, the lady was declared brain dead on 12th September late at night, in another hospital, after suffering from an acute stroke. The family expressed her wish of donating her liver and kidney, at the time of her death. Many hospitals were apprehensive of retrieving the organs from an 86-year-old, but Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals welcomed the liver donation as it would be life-saving for a patient in need. A 42-year-old man who was a patient of Hepatitis C, consequently, had suffered from liver failure and was in urgent need of a liver transplant. The liver transplant team headed by Dr. Neerav Goyal at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals carried out the process of extracting the liver in a healthy condition and successfully performed the procedure of liver transplant. While the kidney was accepted by the hospital where she died; the donor’s liver was transplanted at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, into a 42-year-old man at midnight on 13th September, within hours of the donation. Dr Neerav Goyal, Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said “The usual acceptable age for cadaver organ transplant is 65 years of age, people beyond that age are considered as marginal donors. They are only eligible for cadaver organ donation after evaluation of organ health, owing to possible pre-existing co-morbid conditions. When we got to know that there is a cadaver donor for liver, we decided to evaluate the organ to examine whether it was suitable for donation. The liver biopsy revealed that the lady had a perfectly healthy liver, like that of a young person, hence we decided to go ahead with the procedure of organ extraction. The organ was transported to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and a successful procedure for liver transplant was done.” “After four days of transplant the patient’s body has responded well and after post-transplant care the patient will be discharged” he further added. Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “The Apollo Transplant program has to its credit the first successful Pediatric and Adult Liver Transplants in India that were performed in 1998. As a pioneer in the field of liver, kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and multi-organ transplantation, the team across the Apollo Group has continued to perform transplants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1st April, 233 solid organ transplants – 43 liver, 183 kidney, 4 other transplants have been performed giving patients a new lease of life.”

Apollo Hospitals, Chennai has successfully performed a complicated Limb saving revascularization Procedure on a patient from Georgia. The patient sustained a crushing injury in his lower limb during his work on a cargo ship that was stationed near Chennai. Dr Rajarajan Venkatesan, Senior Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals and team moved the patient for emergency surgery with proper protection for COVID prevention. A Limb Saving Revascularization (popliteal artery grafting) procedure and Liberal Leg Fasciotomy was performed by the Vascular and Plastic surgery team. Due to extreme injury, patient had developed deadly infection due to the crushed muscles. Dr Ram Gopalakrishnan, Consultant Infectious Disease, Apollo Hospitals helped treat the infections. The patient also underwent many Debridement Surgeries to remove the infected and dead muscle tissue, received broad spectrum antibiotics, and after one month of a long fight he recovered from the infection. Read more about the life-saving surgery performed by Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

In a development that brings new hope to cancer patients in Eastern India, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals has launched the advanced HalcyonTM Radiation Therapy System for optimized image-guided radiotherapy to deliver high quality cancer treatment. The Halcyon system introduced to Eastern India for the first time uses human-centered design to deliver sophisticated, highly targeted cancer treatments with high precision and accuracy, at a speed that is up to four time faster than standard technology. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The patient is the focus of all our efforts and initiatives to bring advances in medical technology and deliver cutting-edge treatments on par with that in developed countries. In line with this, we are proud to be the first to bring the advanced Halcyon Radiation Therapy system, a welcome tool in our fight against cancer, for the benefit of cancer patients in Eastern India. The increase in the number of cases of cancer is indeed a matter of great concern and it is essential to bring in the best available medical technology to reduce mortality by delivering high quality treatments and providing our oncologists the tools to care for more patients. We dedicate this system to the people of Eastern India with the hope that the Halcyon Radiation Therapy system, which sets a new standard in the delivery of precision radiation therapy, will benefit and help save the lives of many cancer patients in the eastern region”. The Halcyon Radiation Therapy system’s targeted therapy ensures that damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumour can be further avoided or minimised, which is of great benefit in cases such as cancer of the head and neck, prostate, lungs etc. The precisely delivered radiation with a tight focus prevents damage to healthy tissues and hence reduces side effects of cancer treatment. The advanced system also ensures completion of treatment in fewer steps as compared to the older radiation therapy system through use of intelligent automation that reduces the treatment time and makes the treatment more comfortable for the patient. Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “At Apollo Hospitals, we have always been a leader in enhancing cancer treatment in India and have consistently remained a trailblazer in delivering state-of-the-art healthcare to South-East Asia. The Halcyon Radiation Therapy system is designed around the patient with the assurance of an enhanced patient connection, that allows our oncology team to deliver exceptional treatment with increased efficiency in a less intimidating environment that is comfortable and reassuring to the patients.” Mr. Rana Dasgupta, CEO (Eastern Region), Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals said, “The Halcyon Radiation Therapy system allows exceptional treatments to be delivered faster with increased efficiency in a less intimidating environment that is comfortable and reassuring to the patients. Patients can get back to their lives with minimal disruption this is due to our ability to deliver advanced cost-effective cancer care that is accessible and affordable to all patients.” The Halcyon system has multiple benefits including automated treatment, comfort for the patient, ease of use for the oncology team, and accelerated installation timeframe with shortening of time from installation to first-treatment without sacrificing quality. The system simplifies and enhances every aspect of the radiation therapy process, with image-guidance and intensity-modulation radiotherapy (IMRT) that improves patient comfort. With a streamlined workflow, the Halcyon system requires just nine steps from the start to the end of treatment compared to up to more than 30 steps with older technologies. The improved workflow increases the efficiency. Standardized workflows are easy to master, so clinicians can spend more time with patients. An integrated intercom enables immediate and clear communication between the therapist and the patient. The quiet system with smooth motion and easy access keeps patients relaxed and focused. The 100 cm. diameter bore with integrated ambient lighting prevents claustrophobia. The unique and innovative design of the Halcyon system allows clinicians to treat patients quickly and minimize motion, which is extremely important when treating patients with pelvic tumours such as prostate cancer and cervical cancer. The short treatment times could also eliminate the need for breath holds traditionally required during breast, esophageal and lung cancer treatments.

A team of doctors at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, accomplished a near miracle by saving a mother and child, from a highly critical health condition. The mother, into her 7th month of pregnancy, developed COVID and had to be treated on ventilator. To save the baby, a pre-term delivery was performed on her despite the mother’s condition. Both mother and baby were discharged hail and healthy. This was a first-of-its-kind care in this part of the world, where a 7-month preterm baby was delivered from a mother undergoing infertility care, while being ventilated for COVID. he 34-year-old patient, was undergoing infertility treatment and was into the seventh month of pregnancy. Being a precious delivery for the couple , they were seeking the guidance of Dr Sharmila, Senior Consultant Pediatrician at Apollo Hospitals, to avoid later stage medical complications. However, recently along with the other members of her family, the mother got infected with COVID-19 and was brought to the hospital on July 15th in a very critical condition. On admission, her condition deteriorated rapidly, and saturation levels were dismally low necessitating ventilator management. There was little hope of her survival medically, as nearly 90% of pregnant women needing ventilation, breath their last or end up delivering still born preterm babies. The medical team too had its set of challenges specific to this case: Complex hemodynamics of pregnancy and severe COVID infection with high viral load Difficulty in ventilation and the inability to make patient sleep on her belly, which is a necessity for COVID patients and is done for non-pregnant patients Difficulty in performing surgery with the protective (PPE) gear. Difficulty in assessing and reviving the baby at birth and the PPE not allowing proper assessment and delicate care babies’ need. The Doctors took these challenges in their stride and were keen to save both the mother and baby, but on a priority wanted to save the mother. During the course of the treatment the mother stopped responding and chances of her survival seemed slim, the team decided to retrieve at least the baby before the mother succumbs. The baby was delivered on July 17th by operating on the mother, while sustaining her on ventilator. But the baby too was found to be ill and not responding to resuscitation. The team revived baby’s heart function with medication, but the risk of it not surviving continued to be high. The baby later developed a blood stream infection and was treated. The baby gradually recovered, she started responding to the treatment and got better by the day. The fully recovered baby was discharged today. In the meantime, the mother saw a phenomenal recovery and was discharged on August 10th, 2020. The team of Doctors at Apollo Hospitals, who made this near miracle possible were Dr Deepak, Dr Nagaraj and Dr Sidharth, Critical care specialists: Dr Suneetha Nareddy, Dr Ravi Kiran and the team of Infectious disease specialists, Dr Vimee Bindra, Gynecologist; Dr Sanath Reddy, Anesthetist; Dr Sharmila, Neonatologist; Dr Chandrakant, Pulmonologist and Dr Prasad, Radiologist. During this period one of the Doctors from the Critical Care Team ended up getting infected with COVID, but the entire team risked their life to see this miracle happen despite several odds.

Doctors at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, operated a 52-year-old woman for removal of the largest ovarian tumour ever to be operated in the world. Patient was a resident of New Delhi who had been gaining weight for the last few months and weighed a total of 106 kgs. She recently started experiencing difficulty in breathing, acute pain in her lower abdomen and consequently difficulty in walking and sleeping. With rapid weight gain and increasing complications, the family consulted a local surgeon, who then referred the patient to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. Upon investigation at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals it was revealed that the lady had a giant, progressively expanding tumour in her ovary and this was putting pressure on her intestine (intestinal adhesions) causing acute stomach pain and inability to digest food. Additionally, the haemoglobin of the patient had dropped to 6, causing severe anemia. A team of surgeons led by Dr Arun Prasad, Senior Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterology & Bariatric Surgery including Dr Abhishek Tiwari, Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterology, Dr Geeta Chadha, Senior Consultant, Gynaecology & Obstetrics and Dr Jaya George, Senior Consultant, Anaesthesiology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi conducted a three -and-a-half-hour successful surgery for extraction of this 50 kg tumour on 18th August, 2020. Elaborating on the case, Dr Arun Prasad, said, “In over 30 years of my experience as a surgeon I have never come across a case where the tumor weighed almost half the person’s body weight. There was a case reported in 2017 as the largest from Coimbatore where a lady was operated for a 34 kg tumour in her ovary.” “Extraction of a 50 kg tumour was a challenge for the team. More so because the patient had exceptionally low haemoglobin and had to undergo 6 units of blood transfusion (in total) before, during and after the procedure. This procedure was a perfect example of how important it is to understand the traditional methods of surgery while evolving with new minimal access procedures. Here, there was no space in the abdomen for insertion of equipment via laparoscopy or robot assisted methods, hence we had to resort to traditional methods of surgery. With the combined effort of experts from the Gastroenterology, Gynaecology and Anaesthesiology teams, the extraction was done successfully.” A key surgeon on this case, Dr Abhishek Tewari, said, “The patient was admitted with complaints of stomach pain, breathing stress and obvious weight gain. She was advised immediate surgery else the tumour would have grown exponentially and caused pressure on other organs leading to possible organ failure. Fortunately, the tumour was benign and the patient had no co-morbidities, which enabled a faster recovery. Post-surgery her weight dropped to 56 kgs.” Dr Geeta Chadha, Senior Consultant, Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said, “There is no proven reason for emergence of a tumour in the ovary, but it can happen during the formation of the cells in a human body. As a first ever case of a 50 kg tumour in the ovary, this was a challenging procedure. Due to the giant tumour, the intestinal tract throughout was compressed and flattened which was putting pressure on the gut leading to risk of rupture in the ovary. The surgery was done with utmost precision while keeping in mind seamless extraction of the tumour and simultaneously ensuring no harm is caused to the ovary or the gut. Post-surgery the patient showed tremendous recovery and was discharged on 22nd August.”