• The stupendous effort involved seven surgeries• Apollo Liver transplant team has unprecedented outcomes with a success rate of 97% for all liver transplants & 100% for living donor liver transplantationsHyderabad, November 6, 2014: A Team of Doctors at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, successfully performed three highly demanding and complex liver transplants and a kidney transplant, involving a mammoth endeavor of seven surgeries across two cities in less than 40 hours, on four terminally ill end stage patients in October, 2014. The patients have since recovered. This was announced at a Press Conference by Dr. Hari Prasad, CEO – Central Region, Apollo Hospitals and Dr. Manish C Varma, Liver Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Health City, on Thursday.The patients, 44 years old Ketan Ramesh Patel from Gujarat; USA based 47 year old Mahendra Kumar Kar, though originally from Orissa and Dynandev Warule, 52 year old from Maharashtra were critically ill and were desperately awaiting liver transplants, the first two had cadaver livers’ transplanted, while Dynandev Warule got liver from his son. They placed their utmost trust in the highly experienced Liver transplant team at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, led by Dr Varma, which clocked an overall success rate of 97% for all liver transplants and 100% for Living Donor liver transplantations, a feat not many hospitals in the world can match.Ketan Ramesh Patel was critically ill for over six months when he came to us, requiring repeated admissions to the hospital. In the interim period he also developed a bout of serious blood stream infection with fungus, requiring the multispecialty expertise of the hospital to get him rid of it. He was also considering undergoing a blood group mismatched transplant from a part liver to be donated by his wife as a desperate measure to save his life. He was lucky to receive an organ from a brain dead person just in the nick of time.Mahendra Kumar Kar was diagnosed with jaundice and end stage liver disease about 4 months back and was advised to undergo liver transplantation in USA. However, he preferred to get it done in India and at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, after weighing various options. He was fortunate to get a liver from a brain dead patient in Vizag, with the coordination of Jeevandan. Retrieving the liver from the brain dead donor and transporting it by a commercial flight was a medical and logistical challenge for the team, requiring minute planning, precise timing and an experienced team of coordinators to carry out the endeavour to a successful conclusion.Dnyandev Warule, a farmer from Maharashtra, was diagnosed with Liver disease when he got hospitalized with infection about 6 months back. His bad liver also started to affect his kidneys and repeated infections and hospital admissions prompted his engineer son, Suresh Warule, to donate a part of his liver to his father.The kidney transplant was performed on 43 year old software engineer, Kareemullah Khan, suffering from long standing renal failure. He is a known patient of diabetes and hypertension for the past eight years and was on dialysis for the last three years. He is now off dialysis and will join work and lead a normal life in two months time. Apollo Health City, Hyderabad on an average does 100 kidney transplants a year with a success rate of more than 95%.The team of specialists involved in the marathon liver transplant surgeries included Dr. Anand Khakhar; Dr. Manish Varma; Dr. Anand Ramamurthy; Dr. Mahesh Gopasetty; Dr. K. Rajasekhar; Dr. Sanath Reddy; Dr. Dinesh Babu; Dr. Bipin Vibhute, Dr. Vasanth Roopan and Dr. Rajeev Sinha. The team of Dr. Somasekhar, Consultant Nephrologist; Dr. Subramanyam, Consultant Urologist and Dr. Sanath Reddy, Consultant Anaesthetist, performed the Kidney Transplant. Mr. Girish Shetty and Mr. Sandeep were the Transplant coordinators.Speaking on the occasion Dr Hari Prasad said, a commendable effort of this magnitude is rare in the annals of medical history and the Liver transplant team led by Dr Manish Varma at the Apollo Health city, deserves kudos. The organ transplant team has been incessantly working towards our Chairman, Dr. Prathap Reddy’s dream of reaching out to the suffering end stage patients, providing succor through organ transplants and making a difference to their lives. A patient from USA preferring to get treated by this team despite the option of getting the best medical help back there, speaks volumes about the team’s expertise and is a true testimony to their professional ability, says Dr Prasad.According to Dr. Manish Varma, Liver transplantation is one of the most complex and demanding organ transplantations, performing three such transplants involving six surgeries across two cities in less than two days time is nothing short of a miracle, but a combination of highly experienced liver transplant specialists, world-class infrastructure and professional support team at the Apollo Health City, made this possible. The stupendous outcomes of the liver transplant program at the hospital is in itself a benchmark unreplicable for most reputed institutions in the world, he added.Apollo Hospitals Group is the flag-bearer in liver transplantation in the country. It has the largest liver transplant programme in this part of the world. The Centre for Liver Disease and Transplantation at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad is the fastest growing liver transplant program with results on par with the best liver centers in the world. The centre specializes in both, living donor liver transplant and cadaveric liver transplants. The liver transplant team at Apollo Health City is multidisciplinary team of experts trained at pioneer centers like Harvard, Pittsburgh, Duke’s, and Kings College. The superlative patient outcomes speak of the dedicated team and excellent infrastructure.About Apollo Hospitals: It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Now, as Asia largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 8,488 beds across 51 Hospitals, 1,586 Pharmacies, 92 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 100 Telemedicine units across 10 countries. Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy, 15 colleges of Nursing and Hospital Management and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research and the first Proton Therapy Centre across Asia, Africa and Australia.In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 28 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.

PUBLIC GARDEN WALKERS’ ASSOCIATION hosted its 225th Monthly Health Lecture on Sunday at Indira Priyadarshani Auditorium, Public Garden, Nampally. Dr. Manish C. Varma, Consultant & Head of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary- Pancreatic Unit, Apollo Hospital, delivered the health lecture on “Hepatitis and Chronic Liver Disease: Prevention better than cure.’’ Members of Public Garden Walkers’ Association (PGWA) and general public attended in large numbers along with Mr Ghulam Yazdani, Chairman, PGWA; Dr. Purshottam Das, Gen. Secretary, PGWA; Mr Vishwanath Agarwal, Joint Secretary, PGWA; Mr Pramod Kumar Kedia, Vice President, PGWA and Mr B.L. Pershad Jaiswal, Treasurer, PGWA.Speaking to the audience, Dr. Manish Varma said, Liver is a vital organ in the human body made of over 300 billion specialized cells. It performs complex functions which are essential to human life. The liver is a unique organ in the sense that it has a large reserve and has the capacity to regenerate and repair itself. However, in the face of ongoing injury, the liver may suffer damage which is irreversible and irreparable.Liver injury manifests itself as hepatitis which can manifest as jaundice, fever, loss of appetite, swelling in the abdomen and legs, among other manifestations. The most common causes of hepatitis are Alcohol (alcoholic hepatitis), Viral infections (viral hepatitis), and obesity (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis- NASH). Fortunately, all of these are preventable.Once liver injury progresses beyond a certain extent, it results in a condition called liver cirrhosis, which is irreversible and, hence, called End Stage Liver Disease. Liver Cirrhosis is a progressive disease leading to a very poor quality of life, and cannot be managed with medicines beyond a certain stage. The only way to cure cirrhosis is by changing the diseased liver by Liver Transplantation which can be performed with success rates of more than 90-95%. Without liver transplantation, the outlook for patients with cirrhosis is very poor with almost no hope for long term survival.The steps to prevent End stage liver disease are simple and requires life style modifications and vaccinations against hepatitis viruses. The medical community can contribute by following safe blood bank and hospital practices.End Stage Liver Disease results in a very poor quality of Life and the cure requires major medical interventions. The measures required to prevent this are simple. Hence, it is important that we as a community realize that in the matters of the liver: Prevention is Better than Cure, and take the necessary steps in this direction.

 Apollo Hospital’s Pioneering Research Redefines Prostate Cancer Screening Standards for Indian MenUnveils New Reference Values in the Largest Study of its Kind conducted with close to 1 lakh men with no prior disposition to the diseaseNational, 12 January 2024: In a monumental stride towards advancing prostate cancer care in India, Apollo Hospitals, the world’s largest integrated healthcare provider, has unveiled groundbreaking findings in its latest study, ‘Determining age‑specific prostate‑specific antigen for healthy Indian men’ published the prestigious Indian Journal of Urology. Led by Dr. N Ragavan and Dr. Sanjai Addla, from Apollo Chennai and Apollo Hyderabad, respectively, the study involved nearly 100,000 healthy men across diverse age groups and regions in Indi a, establishing new reference values for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) specific to the Indian demographic.PSA is an established blood marker for early diagnosis and monitoring of treatment for prostate cancer. Since 1993, international norms for normal PSA values have been based on a study from the USA and the same have been adopted in India. The western standards quiet often were found to be ill-suited for the Indian population over to diverse genetic demarcations.  This latest groundbreaking Apollo study reveals that PSA values in India differ, prompting the establishment of new, tailored standards. Key findings include age-specific PSA standards, a progressive increase in PSA levels with age, and Indian-specific PSA values facilitating earlier detection in younger men.With this, Apollo hospitals, clinics and diagnostics network will move towards the adoption of these new PSA standards for Prostate Screening.Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals said, “This landmark study ushers a transformative moment in India’s prostate cancer care landscape, which resonates with our mission to conquer cancer, at every touchpoint possible. Establishing new prostate cancer screening standards for Indian men across ages in a landmark study reflects our commitment to pioneering advancements that redefine cancer care. With divergent PSA standards for different age groups, a progressive increase in levels with age, and Indian-specific values, we are transforming the landscape of prostate cancer care. This monumental shift not only facilitates earlier detection in younger men but also prevents unnecessary investigations in older individuals. By adopting these tailored standards, Apollo Hospitals reaffirms its commitment to patient-centric care and sets the stage for a new paradigm in healthcare innovation.”Prof Sanjai Addla, Consultant Uro-oncologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad: “Our study, the largest in India, re-evaluates the age-specific PSA reference ranges tailored for the Indian population. Having data from 1lakh healthy men, we are confident to bridge the gap and enhance the accuracy of serum PSA testing in detecting prostate cancer among Indian men, improving its efficacy as a diagnostic marker and provides hope of treatment for those in the advanced stages also. As the incidence of prostate cancer rises in India, our study sought to address the limited data on age-specific PSA levels in our population. The observed link between serum PSA levels and age among Indian men contrasts with established standards for Caucasian n. This study offers a significant opportunity to redefine age-specific PSA reference ranges for Indian men, enabling more precise clinical decision-making and enhancing our ability to combat prostate cancer effectively.”Key findings from the Apollo study published in the Indian Journal of Urology of PSA values in 100,000 healthy men who visited Apollo Hospitals (during 2011-2018) for Indian population norms:Established divergent PSA standards for different age groups, contrasting with prior global norms.Revealed a progressive increase in PSA levels with age: <1.4 ng/mL (<40) to 11.3 ng/mL (>80).New Indian-specific PSA values aid earlier prostate cancer detection in younger men with lower PSA levels.Prevents unnecessary investigations in older men; new reference range for patients in their 70s and 80s is notably higher.Sets the foundation for tailored investigation and treatment in Indian men based onPSA values.Committed to patient-centric innovations, Apollo has acquired the latest bk5000 Ultrasound system. This allows us to deliver an integrated state-of-the-art diagnostic for prostate cancer detection, implementing the latest procedure known as Trans-Perineal Real Time Fusion (TP RTF) prostate biopsy. This approach avoids the contaminated transrectal (back passage) route minimizing the need for hospital admissions, bring down the risk of infection and sepsis to almost nil, and ensures a safer and more streamlined biopsy experience for Apollo patients.Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad has already changed the reference values in line with the newly published data. Over the next quarter we will see a phased adoption of these new benchmarking across Apollo Hospitals in the southern region, followed by the rest of the hospitals, clinics and diagnostic center in the Apollo ecosystem.Additionally, in collaboration with society of Genitourinary Oncologists (SOGO) Apollo is working towards publishing a position paper to highlight the new reference PSA values for Healthy Indian men; making this a industry validation for other healthcare providers to adopt these Indian benchmarks.About Apollo:Apollo revolutionized healthcare when Dr Prathap Reddy opened the first hospital in Chennai in 1983. Today Apollo is the world’s largest integrated healthcare platform with over 10,000 beds across 71 hospitals, nearly 6000 pharmacies and over 200 clinics and diagnostic centers as well as 150 telemedicine centers. It is one of the world’s leading cardiac centers performing over 3,00,000 angioplasties and 2,00,000 surgeries with superior clinical outcomes. Apollo has also conducted over 25 million health checks till date and continues to make preventive health more accurate and accessible to Indians with offerings like ProHealth. Apollo continues to invest in research to bring the most cutting-edge technologies, equipment and treatment protocols to ensure patients have the best available care in the world. Apollo’s 100,000 family members are dedicated to bringing you the best care and leaving the world better than we found it.    

Hyderabad 16thJune 2024 : Apollo Hospitals, in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is proud to announce a special run to commemorate World Blood Donation Day on June 16, 2024, this 3km run With the theme “Walk. Donate. Repeat” started from Apollo and retuned back to Apollo hospital, Jublieehills event is designed to raise awareness about the critical need for blood donation and to encourage regular contributions to save lives.Theme: Walk. Donate. RepeatAround 1,500 employees of TCS took part in the event, showcasing their commitment to this vital cause. This initiative highlights the importance of voluntary blood donation and aims to create a strong community of donors who can make a real difference.Speaking on the occasion Apollo Hospitals, CEO (Telangana Region) Mr Tejaswi Rao along with Dr Ravindra Babu, Director Medical Services(Telangana Region), said  “We are thrilled to partner with TCS to bring attention to the importance of blood donation. Our theme, ‘Walk. Donate. Repeat.’, reflects our commitment to encouraging people to donate blood regularly. Every drop counts, and together, we can save countless lives.”TCS Regional Head Mr.Challa Nag along with Mr Srikanth Surampudi , Head of TCS Hyderabad HR added “TCS is honoured to support this noble cause. We believe in the power of community and the impact of collective efforts. This run is not just an event but a movement to inspire more people to become regular blood donors.”Blood donation is a simple, yet powerful act of service, and regular donors are essential for maintaining a stable and safe blood supply, One unit of blood can save upto 3 different lives said Dr Sudha Ranganathan , Head of Blood Bank Apollo Hospitals.

The hybrid conference witnessed 600 delegates from the research community together to share experiences and discuss topical issuesHyderabad 06 Dec 2023 :  Apollo Research & Innovation (ARI) and Apollo Hospitals Educational & Research Foundation (AHERF) – research divisions of Apollo Hospitals Group successfully hosted the “Apollo Clinical Research Conclave”, a two-day hybrid conference on at Apollo Medical College Auditorium, Apollo Health City, Jubilee Hills Hyderabad. The one-of-its-kind Conclave saw the coming together of over 27 stakeholders from across the research community – students, academia, researchers, regulators, pharma, SMOs, CROs, KPOs, hospitals & and research coordinators – onto one common platform.The Clinical Research Conclave saw participation from more than 600 participants (300 from industry 300 from academic institutions including students), with over 35 eminent speakers sharing their experiences. The conference saw pertinent questions being raised to address key issues in research activities essential for the enhancement of healthcare and the well-being of the community. The packed hybrid event witnessed 2 plenary sessions, 18 expert talks, three panel discussions, a poster competition, and an interactive Q&A session with each speaker.Inaugurating the conclave, Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “By Harnessing the future of technology, AI algorithms and the power of Gen AI, the human mind will be able to analyse and imbibe data outcome to help mankind. I look forward to meaningful interactions like this to bring out phenomenal ideas from different aspects of clinical research which will help for future diagnosis, interventions, and predictions to  curtail the onset of disease before it is too late. The ideas generated from this conclave will provide a road map for research with many answers to tackle the new advancements and transformative innovations and take the research to next level and offer different ways to the stakeholders when they come together for the benefit of mankind”.The two-day event focused on the multi-faceted relationship of clinical research stakeholders and looked at bridging the academic and clinical research gap. The speakers from across the healthcare spectrum included senior representatives from Pharma companies (Sun Pharmaceuticals, Abbott, Haleon, Bharat Serums and Vaccines group, Roche, Immuneel), CRO (Parexel, Navitas Life sciences, Siro Clinpharma, THB, Dozee, HCU),  IT sector (Google, Microsoft) IT- health care sector (Quantiphi, Shodh Clinicals, Mestastop solutions) Central research and funding organizations such as (NIPER, CCMB-Hyderabad, ICMR), hospitals (Apollo Hospitals, Chettinad Hospitals, and research institute, AIIMS- New Delhi, LV Prasad Eye institute), and many more distinguished healthcare industry veterans.The interesting plenary session on the first day by Mr. Anil Bhansali from Google on “Readiness of the Researcher to the Evolving Innovations in Research – A Global Perspective” has opened our eyes to the current scenario and how the researcher and team need to be equipped to face the new evolving trends and innovations.This session was followed by the advancements in clinical research. It witnessed excellent topics presented on pioneering breakthroughs and transformative changes, Real World Evidence Studies, and also fostering medical advancement to unveil cutting-edge discoveries. The topics covered by the subject experts were very informative and useful to the students/CR professionals to think of new avenues for their higher education and career opportunities.As all of us are aware AI is the most sought-after area in any field. Especially in clinical research, it plays a vital role and the sessions on AI in Clinical Research followed by the panel discussion explicitly provided a complete understanding of the various aspects of AI and how the AI-powered clinical research revolution empowers CR and healthcare progress. The power-packed panel discussion on the role of stakeholders’ perspective of AI in CR gave clarity on the Dos and Don’ts and also highlighted how AI can support and supplement but cannot replace the essential human touch.Patient recruitment is becoming a challenge with the growing disease patterns and the evolving trends in CR and sites have to tackle the situation to ensure patient safety throughout. The presence of a site management or trial office in any healthcare setup is a great boon to ensure effective patient recruitment and ethical conduct of studies. The session on Patient Recruitment followed by the panel discussion on “Innovative strategies to overcome challenges in patient enrolment” provided a clear and explicit perspective on the stakeholder’s views and the significance of the site management office in a clinical trial site. The recommendations were collaboration, resources, training, the use of AI to ease the load, and commitment from the take holders to overcome patient enrolment challenges.

SOCIETY TO AID THE HEARING IMPAIREDIn November of 2004, a group of ENT surgeons, audiologists, and hospital management personnel, united with concerned citizens, to form SAHI. It is an Indian NGO that aims at helping underprivileged children with impaired hearing. SAHI mainly seeks to identify and aid children living in rural areas, with little or no access to modern medical treatment. Since its establishment, SAHI has been addressing this problem by means of conducting camps in remote areas of the state. Children with learning disabilities or hearing loss are given hearing aids by SAHI and those with ear diseases are given free ear surgeries.DEAF FREE TELANGANASAHI will be celebrating the occasion of its 10th anniversary, by initiating an ambitious programme called the ‘Deaf Free Telangana’ project. SAHI is adopting Chevella parliament constituency with the aim of making it a completely deaf free zone in the next two years. The project includes intensive public awareness programmes, regular camps for children below the age of 15, distribution of hearing aids and corrective surgical procedures for the hearing impaired. This programme will be implemented with the help of Apollo Hospitals and Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.“Every single time you help someone stand up, you are helping humanity rise.”–Dr. Steve MaraboliIndia sees approximately 750,000, i.e., 5% of the total population having hearing problems. About 40,000 of these individuals are hearing impaired from birth, or acquire hearing loss during early childhood. If left untreated in the first 3-5 years of life, these children end up remaining hearing and speech challenged throughout their lives.SAHI team and Apollo are planning to take its first step in creating a deaf free Telangana by conducting its first camp on the 19th of October in Chevella Town. Apollo medical students are joining hands with SAHI as active volunteers at these camps, hoping to create a better hearing society.

Apollo Simulation Centre at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram has signed a MoU with Tamil Nadu Nurse and Midwives Council to implement competency based training through simulation technique for student nurses. The memorandum was signed by Dr. Ani Grace Kalaimathi, Registrar on behalf of TNNMC and Dr. Muralidharan M, Director Apollo Simulation Centre and DME and Vice President, Apollo Knowledge, in the presence of Padmavibushan Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, Mr. Sivaramakrishnan Venkateswaran, CEO, Apollo Knowledge and Dr. Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals. Simulation-based training has been made mandatory, based on the new curriculum implemented by the Indian Nursing Council.By entering into this memorandum, Apollo Simulation Centre will become the State Simulation Referral Centre for Training of Trainers for Nursing Leaders in Simulation in preservice education. This training will be first of its kind in the country to be implemented throughout the state across all colleges as simulation-based training has been made mandatory, based on the new curriculum implemented by the Indian Nursing Council.”Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Nurses spend maximum time with the patients and their compassionate care makes all the difference to them and is most recognized”. He added that “There will be a huge deficit in healthcare professionals by the end of this decade, which should be tackled by increasing the number of healthcare professionals. If the number of doctors is to be doubled, the number of nurses should be tripled. It is important that we should also create proficient and skilled professionals. Apollo Hospitals is proud to be part of creating competent, confident and compassionate future Nurses”.Apollo Simulation Centre (ASC) is a state-of the art training center for upskilling healthcare providers. ASC has trained more than 2500 Learners comprising of Doctors, Nurses and Paramedics in various courses in the last one year.Dr. Ani Grace Kaliamathi, Registrar, TNNMC “Simulation based education is the future of teaching and training. It helps every Learner to get equal opportunity in hands-on training in skill enhancement. Simulation also equips and empowers the Faculty, who are the sculptors of future nurses to impart the necessary training to students to enhance the quality in healthcare.”The Tamil Nadu Nurse and Midwives Council (TNNMC) is an autonomous statutory body for registering qualified Nurses Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, Health Visitors and recognizing Nursing Colleges. The Council is keen on implementing Competency Based training for student Nurses.This MoU will facilitate over 1200 Faculties from the 220 Nursing Colleges of Tamil Nadu to undergo a three-day Course at ASC for a one-year period, to become Trainers. The course will enable Trainers in conducting simulation-based training for nursing students to exercise decision making in clinical scenarios, team behaviour and to address human factors in reducing medical errors, along with upskilling.

Apollo Children’s Hospital has launched the Apollo Paediatric Psychiatry Liaison & Education department (APPLE), India’s first Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry Department in Chennai. The department was inaugurated by Ms. B. Priyanka Pankajam IAS., Executive Director Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women in the presence of Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group and Ms. Gouri G Kishan, popular cine artiste. As a part of the event, Master AR Illamparuthi, under 14 world Youth Chess Champion was honoured and felicitated for his achievements.The unique aspect of the department of ‘APPLE’ – Apollo Paediatric Psychiatry Liaison & Education is the presence of a Liaison Psychiatrist in the entire treatment process of paediatric patients, who would focus on the various mind-related issues while the body of a child heals. Moreover, it also focusses on many conditions which do not have a physiological or pathological reasoning which could be attributed to mental well-being.Speaking during the inauguration, Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Good health and wellbeing are holistic in nature involving the mind and the body. When it comes to treating illnesses, we often focus on the body and underestimate the importance of mental wellbeing in the process of healing. Conventionally, this aspect is left to the family to deal with, which is extremely hard especially when the child is going through an illness. It’s for this reason that Apollo Children’s Hospitals is launching a one-of-its-kind Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry Department. We are extremely happy to launch this novel department on Children’s Day”.With the launch of this department, a Liaison Psychiatrist would interact and assess the patients along with the primary paediatrician and super specialists. This assessment ensures that the treatment plan would be amended to include the mental well-being of the child. The Psychiatrist would thereby be the bridge between the patient and the primary physician.The Liaison Psychiatrist would also counsel the parents and help them deal with their child’s illnesses better. This is especially crucial in long term illnesses and highly critical illnesses which require intensive care etc. Examples of these issues could be children dealing with missed classes / schooling, how parents would need to deal with their official responsibilities, personal commitments along with the treatment of their child etc.The Liaison Psychiatrist would also be training nurses and other staff members to interact with patients with empathy and sensitivity depending on their illness. This would reduce friction during their interaction with the child and their parents and would aid in improving their experience during their hospital stay. This new perspective to healing would benefit patients, parents and staff members thereby accelerating healing and result in managing long term and critical illnesses better.The event also featured cultural and entertainment activities including an act where children were dressed up as doctors, nurses and admin staff and walked around the hospital. The children got a feel of running the hospital on their special day. Children who fought back to life after being critically ill were also part of the event. The CSR activities done by Apollo Children’s Hospitals were also on display during the event.

A patient diagnosed was diagnosed with Acute Budd Chiari syndrome of cryptogenic etiology causing portal hypertension and ascites. The patient was advised TIPS (TRANSJUGULAR INTRAHEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT) which relieves hepatic venous outflow obstruction and portal hypertension as well as prevents ascites formation and life threatening complications like GI bleed. A 10mm x 10cm PTFE covered metal stent was placed between the middle hepatic vein and right portal vein under fluoroscopic guidance. The procedure was uneventful. Check Doppler that was done 2 days post procedure showed stent thrombosis for which Balloon angioplasty was done and stent was opened. Anticoagulation medications were optimized and the ascites disappeared. Stent patency rates of about 80% at 1 year and good 5-yr survival (74%) without liver transplantation have been reported after TIPS. This procedure was successfully done by Dr. Raja sekhar.K, Dr. Rajaneesh .C.Reddy, Dr. Sridhar Reddy, Dr. Srinivas Chakravarthy, Dr. Manish Varma.

The Apollo Cancer Centers (ACC) launched ArtCan, a unique initiative which uses art as a medium to spread awareness on Breast Cancer. Apollo Cancer Centers joined hands with mural artists and survivors to curate art that educates and empowers every woman about the importance of regular breast self-examination.Through ancient Kerala Mural Art, 8 steps of self-breast examination brought attention to the issue of breast cancer. Each frame reflected the story of a woman who discovered this condition while performing a self-breast examination, acted on time and defeated cancer. These eight steps have also been depicted in a book format called ‘Chitra Sutra’.The Mural Arts were unveiled on October 31, 2022 at Hotel Rain Tree, Anna Salai, Chennai. This unique initiative was inaugurated by actress Prayaga Martin, in the presence of Ms Tanya Mallavarapu Reddy, Founder Mallavarapu Studio, Dr. Rathna Devi, Consultant, Radiation Oncologist, the Eminent Artist Adarsh, Breast Cancer Experts and the winners.Sharing her thoughts at the launch of ArtCan campaign, Actress Prayaga Martin said, “It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the campaign ‘ArtCan’. Art facilitates communication between patients and healthcare personnel by bringing forth insights from the patients’ views that can be communicated to the world. I appreciate Apollo Cancer Centres’ use of art as a medium to educate and raise awareness about self-breast examination. I’m hoping that this initiative will reach women from all over the country and help them win over breast cancer.”Speaking during the launch of the campaign, Ms Tanya Mallavarapu Reddy, Founder, Mallavarapu Studio, said, “It’s a popular belief that life imitates art and hence, art has the power to transcend languages and cultural barriers. The initiative, ArtCan will create a silent conversation and leave a deep impression on the audience. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer globally and accounts for 25% of all cancer cases in women and reports show that early detection is the key to better outcomes. We believe that the ancient Kerala mural art is a unique medium to create awareness about breast cancer and the importance of breast self-examination”.Speaking on the occasion, Dr, Rathna Devi, Consultant, Radiation Oncologist, said, “In 2022, over 20 lakh cases of breast cancer have been witnessed so far. Apollo Cancer Centres has been a leader in Oncology and has treated multiple complex cancer cases. Understanding and getting tested for cancer at the right time can make a difference in saving a life. This initiative will convey our message to the masses to be cautious of breast cancer and understand the symptoms to get tested at an early stage.”The cancer winner shared her thoughts on the initiative, and said, “Apollo Cancer Centre has been my pillar of strength throughout my journey of winning over cancer. Breast cancer came with stigma and loads of challenges, but the timely medical treatment and tender loving care of Apollo helped me through. As a survivor myself, in line with this initiative of ArtCan, I encourage women all around India to get regularly tested for breast cancer. The early detection not only increases the chances of survival but can be treated in the best way possible without complications.”“It was truly fulfilling to work on this one-of-a-kind project, ArtCan. We are glad that Apollo Cancer Centers is using this powerful medium of storytelling through traditional Indian art to disseminate important medical information. Information that can save thousands of lives. At the same time, this effort is shining a spotlight on India’s proud artistic heritage and our master artists, which really aligns with our mission,” said Adarsh, mural artist.Breast Cancer is a result of multiple factors which include environmental and lifestyle changes. In most cases, it is due to anomalies that arise out of the ageing process, while in 5-10% of the cases, it is genetically inherited. Early detection is the best protection against breast cancer. Regular self-examination and mammography at regular intervals have proven to be most effective in early diagnosis and in achieving better results in treatment and cure. Apollo Hospitals has been a pioneer in introducing comprehensive screening protocols for the early detection of breast cancer.  

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) has launched a comprehensive health initiative – Apollo Breast Cancer Diaries (ABCD), a support group for breast cancer. The initiative focuses on providing patients with strong psychological support by connecting them with cancer survivors who have travelled similar paths to victory. APCC takes pride in being at the forefront towards the fight against cancer. With its new initiative, APCC continues to make a difference in its mission to provide breast cancer patients with best-in-class support and treatment.The initiative was inaugurated and flagged off by Ms P Geetha Jeevan, Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare and Women’s Empowerment of Tamil Nadu in the presence of Ms Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group; Dr Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncology, Dr Manjula Rao, Consultant-Breast Onco-plastic Surgeon; and Dr Sujit Kumar Mullapaly, Consultant – Medical Oncologist, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai; along with Ms Claire Young, Breast Cancer Champion from the UK.For a woman, it is extremely upsetting to receive the news that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Further, the treatment process may lead to fatigue and other side effects such as insomnia, anemia, nausea, pain and change in mood. At times, the patient may also have to deal with the social stigma of being diagnosed with the condition.The constant worry about symptoms, treatment, and mortality can be addressed by licensed psychologists and other mental health professionals with experience in breast cancer treatment. The professionals help women cope with the physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes that come with cancer, as well as the rigorous medical treatments.Commenting on the initiative, Ms P Geetha Jeevan, Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “I am grateful to be a part of this unique and noble initiative, ‘Apollo Breast Cancer Diaries’, by Apollo Proton Cancer Centre is focused on supporting the mental health of breast cancer patients struggling to come to terms with the complications and stigmas associated with it. This initiative will help patients change their perception and strategy to cope with the fight against breast cancer. While fighting cancer, balancing emotions and distress comes at the cost of sacrificing physical & mental health. Apollo’s new initiative will give patients the hope and care they deserve to priorities their health and well-being over everything in their lives.”Ms Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Apollo Cancer Centres have always been at the forefront of battling cancer and winning over it. Our initiative, “Apollo Breast Cancer Diaries”, will offer a safe place for people fighting against breast cancer wherein they can share their experiences and emotions with others who are also fighting a similar battle. People in challenging situations benefit from having a good social support system, and Apollo Breast Cancer Diaries will act as a support system for women fighting against breast cancer. The launch of the support group will further strengthen the comprehensive cancer-care that we aim to provide at APCC.”Dr Manjula Rao, Consultant Breast Cancer Specialist & Oncoplastic Surgeon, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, said, “The support groups provide patients with reinforcements that go above and beyond the regular rigmarole of providing medical treatment. At APCC, we pride ourselves on providing patients with a wholesome 360-degree of cancer care and hope to reinforce this principle with the launch of the Apollo Breast Cancer Diaries (ABCD) initiative. We aim to provide our patients with much-needed emotional, physical, and psychosocial support, not only while going through treatment but also after it.”Apollo Proton Cancer Centre has always been encouraging women to get screened, gain knowledge on cancer and its symptoms, and to watch out for early detection. APCC recently launched a “Screen to Win” campaign in Tamil Nadu to emphasize the importance of regular examination and screening to keep cancer at bay and receive timely treatment for a better outcome.  

A 39-year-old male suffered chest injury following RTA. Chest pain was disproportionate to the chest injury. An ECG revealed anterior ST segment elevation following surgery. Angiogram revealed the dissection of the LAD due to chest trauma. This lesion was successfully stented by Dr Manoj Aggarwal, Senior Consultant – Cardiology and patient was relieved of symptoms and stabilized.