Apollo Hospitals organized the 9th Edition of the International Patient Safety Conference (IPSC) and the 10th International Conference on Transforming Healthcare with Information Technology (THIT) on 13th & 14th February at Taj Palace, New Delhi. The conference was also a part of the ongoing celebrations of Founder’s Day, an annual event to pay tribute to the visionary Founder & Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Prathap C Reddy. The International Health Dialogue addressed critical issues in patient safety, with global experts on the subject and more than 2000 delegates from 30 countries. With sessions around this year’s theme of ‘Dream, Design, Dare’, the IPSC conference featured stalwarts like Shri Parameswaran Iyer, CEO, NITI Aayog and Dr Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO, NABH India in their panel of esteemed speakers. Global thought leader Shri Sadhguru, Founder of the Isha Foundation gave an insightful virtual session in the International Health Dialogue. Other Dignitaries like Dr Neelam Dhingra, Head – WHO Patient Safety Flagship Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland, Dr Jonathan Perlin, President & CEO, The Joint Commission, USA and Dr Jacob Thomas, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ramsey Sime Darby Healthcare, Malaysia also participated in the International Health Dialogue. The panel also included Prof Ilona Kickbush, Founding Director and Chair, Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Dr Carsten Engel, Chief Executive Officer at International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), Atul Mohan Kochhar, Chief Executive Officer, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), India and others. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “For decades, we have been at the forefront of ensuring that our patients receive treatment that is on par with the best available globally. Bringing the best of world-class healthcare to patients in India has always been our mission. The conference is our effort to encourage discussion and debate with the chance to effectively address issues among all stakeholders. We must remain updated on new developments and strategies to use modern technologies and AI to provide the best healthcare services possible.” This year’s THIT’s theme is centered on the Butterfly effect in action, examining different aspects of Digital Health along with accompanying standards and policies. It was supported by different endorsing partners and national organizations such as the National Health Authority (Govt of India), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, the Indian Medical Association, leading universities and several other Government organizations. Organizations like WHO, IITs, AIIMS Delhi, Indian Institute of Science, faculty from several overseas universities and established MNCs also participated in the conference. Additionally, start-ups from Innovative Centers of Excellence working on Make in India for the world projects, encompassing Digital Health, also showcased their products. Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “The International Patient Safety Conference provides a forum for all interested parties to discuss best practices for enhancing patient safety, which is a crucial component of healthcare delivery. The THIT conference provides a platform for healthcare and IT entrepreneurs, professionals and students to get insights into how the healthcare business is getting disrupted by medical technology and innovation and the necessity to keep up with this transition. We anticipate a result in which the recommendations made are incorporated into the national policy to enhance patient safety and use innovative technology to achieve cost-effective health results that are advantageous to all stakeholders in the country’s healthcare industry.” The IPSC conference was organized, in partnership with leading organizations, including Joint Commission International (JCI), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the Academy of Hospital Administration (AHA), the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO), Quality & Accreditation Institute (QAI), Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), Astron HealthCare Consultants and others. Adding insights on the twin conferences, Dr. Sangita Reddy, Jt. Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “As India moves closer to achieving universal health coverage, patient safety and digital health should be given high consideration. The twin conferences aim to foster discussion around healthcare policy and create a detailed framework for building a more secure and effective ecosystem for healthcare delivery incorporating the latest technologies to bring healthcare within everyone’s reach.” During the conference, the International Patient Safety Awards were presented to recognize excellence in various categories, including Digital Innovation, Patient & Family Collaboration, Culture of Safety Design, Quality / Patient Safety beyond Accreditation, Patient Safety and Medication Safety.

In line with the mission to provide the most comprehensive and advanced cancer care in India, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), Chennai has expanded its portfolio with another major addition of Proton Gantry named as the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Therapy Bay. The hospital runs the largest Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) program in the country. Hon’ble Thiru M.P. Saminathan, Minister for Information and Publicity, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Mr APJMJ Sheik Saleem, Co-Founder, APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation, inaugurated Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Therapy Bay in the presence of Mr Harshad Reddy, Director-Operations, Group Oncology & International, Apollo Hospitals, Mr Harish Trivedi, Chief Executive Officer, APCC and Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director & HOD- Radiation Oncology, APCC. The bay comes with a high-tech, most sophisticated and advanced state-of-the-art treatment delivery technique known as image-guided intensity modulated proton therapy (IG-IMPT). When compared to conventional X-ray-based radiotherapy, this IG-IMPT has minimal to no exposure of normal, healthy organs to radiation. It has a dedicated proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) nozzle and image guidance built in for the delivery of radiation with ultra-precision. Sophisticated mathematical algorithms, the Leoni 6-Dimensional Robotic couch for comfortable patient positioning, PBS, and inbuilt image guidance can result in accurate delivery of radiation to even the most complex tumour shapes with ultra-high precision. Read more about the launch of new gantry by Apollo Proton Cancer Centre

Staying always ahead in the technology curve, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata has acquired the Da Vinci Xi Robot for the first time in Eastern India. Being the first hospital in Eastern India to bring Da Vinci Si Robot a decade back, it has now moved a step ahead with thelatest technology. The Xi Robot can assist surgeons in interventions in gynecology, urology, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology and others. The Robot is extremely helpful for accessing the organs in the lower abdomen difficult to reach with bare hands. The da Vinci Xi robot allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgeries with enhanced visibility and dexterity, allowing for accurate movements and overall improved patient safety. It maintains high levels of precision with less time in docking machine on the patient’s body before the surgical procedure. Patients get benefitted from smaller scar, shorter stay in hospital with minimal blood loss and faster recovery. Mr Rana Dasgupta, CEO- Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Being among the best healthcare providers in Eastern India, we always focus on ensuring the latest technologies for our patients. This is yet another endeavor towards ease of treatment for all our patients.” Present at the occasion, Dr Surinder Singh Bhatia, DMS, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals Kolkata expressed, “Robotic surgery is the next generation of minimally invasive surgery. Surgical robots are extremely beneficial for many minimally invasive surgeries as it helps in precise movements of surgical instruments beyond human ability in a small surgical area. da Vinci Xi is the latest robot with the modern functionality to help the surgeons operate, ensuring highest levels of patient safety and fastest recovery.” The whole procedure of Robotic surgery involves the doctor sitting in the console with the monitor displaying the surgical area and the robotic arms assisting the doctor for operating. One of the arms holds a high magnification 3D camera which is inserted into the abdomen through one of the key holes and provides a high-definition, magnified (12×), 3-D view of the surgical site. The other mechanical arms have surgical instruments attached to it that are designed to mimic the movement of the human hands and wrists. The primary benefit of Robotic surgery is minor incisions and hence, recovery is faster with much lesser complications. It also comes with less pain, lesser or no chance of infection as the incision is much smaller than the usual size of cut, less hospital stay and early recovery.

A 28-year-old man, a citizen of Oman, was successfully treated for left knee deformity at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi. The man was suffering for the past 11 years after his knee bone (tibial condyle) was fractured in an accident. While after the accident he was treated in his native country, he continued to face acute knee pain and over the time developed a complex knee deformity. With his condition deteriorating over the past years, he was referred to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi where he was admitted under the supervision of Dr (Prof.) Raju Vaishya, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement. Through X-ray and CT scan he was diagnosed with malunited medial tibial condyle fracture with severe varus deformity and posterior subluxation (partial dislocation) of the knee. He was admitted to the hospital on 24th November, 2022. Speaking on the same, Dr (Prof.) Raju Vaishya, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, “On admission at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, the patient was very weak and was unable to walk. The complex knee deformity is known as a malunited fracture where the fracture was not united in the correct alignment. Since the tibial condyle fractures involve the knee joint, there was a complex deformity of the knee due to varus (bow leg) and posterior subluxation (backward shifting). The patient knee became increasingly painful after 2 years of the initial treatment and the deformity and instability also increased over 9 years, which deteriorated over the past year. If left untreated his symptoms could have further worsened leading to immobility and severe restriction of the activities of daily living. The patient would have eventually required a total knee replacement at a young age. He was admitted on 24th November 2022 and he was treated via 3D printing technology, which is a relatively new technology to correct joint deformities. The procedure took about 90 minutes. The complex knee deformity of this young man was treated using 3D printing technology, where virtual preoperative planning was done on the computer and a 3D printed plastic model, to correct the deformity. A novel type of osteotomy (trans condylar valgus osteotomy of TCVO) was used to correct the alignment of the knee. The preoperative 3D virtual planning helped us to replicate the bone cuts and fix the osteotomy (bone cut) with a remolded titanium plate, during the surgery”. The patient is doing fine now. His knee pain has been resolved and the deformity corrected. He was discharged on 28th November 2022 and at present is undergoing rehabilitation of the knee in Oman.

Adding another feather to its cap, Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, Bangalore brings in India’s very first prostate cancer diagnosis breakthrough – MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy, a novel technology that enhances the accuracy of cancer detection by 95% to 97% which was impossible to achieve with conventional diagnosis methods. Dr Manohar T, Chief of Urology, Uro Oncology & Kidney Transplantation, Laser, Laparoscopic, Transplant and Robotic Surgeon at Apollo Hospital Seshadripuram and Director, Apollo Institute of Renal sciences (AIRS) is the first doctor in the country to successfully conduct 42 procedures using MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy. In this unique procedure one has to undergo multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and contouring of the lesions which are suspected to be cancerous and prostate size is marked via a special software pack. The image is then transferred to the special ultrasound done transrectally. The ultrasound probes assess the longitudinal and cross-sectional images of the target lesions. Keeping the target in situ, a small bore needle is passed perineally (the area between the scrotum and the anus) via a grid (brachytherapy) for a more accurate yield of tissue for examination. In this method, one can do sector biopsies and saturation biopsies depending on the size of the prostate and in addition target biopsies to accurately diagnose the lesion with minimal sampling. The procedure is conducted under local, regional, or general anesthesia. Explaining the benefits of this latest technology, Dr Manohar T, said “Prostate cancer is the second most common and accounts for 7.1% of the total cancers in men and early diagnosis is critical in improving the outcomes. However, a delay in diagnosis may progress cancer into an advanced stage and the five-year survival rate significantly drops to 30%. Conventional investigation methods miss the diagnosis by 35-45%. The current biopsy method of TRUS biopsy which is done via the trans-rectal route can lead to infections and still misses the diagnosis in about 25% of the cases. This new TRUS biopsy method done trans-perineally offers accuracy up to as much as 95 to 97%, has high specificity and sensitivity, prevents unnecessary biopsies, does not require the patients to be on pre-operational antibiotics or have any bowel preparations and most importantly, there is no risk of infection when the procedure is done through the perineal region.” Adding on to the above benefits, Dr. Manohar pointed out that the MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy method can access both the halves, upper and lower parts of the prostate for targeting lesions and detecting if they are cancerous or not, unlike the procedure that is done trans-rectally which can cover only the lower half of the prostate. Also, this method can pick up cancers as small as 2mm, making the detection at the extremely initial stage of cancer a reality, thereby considerably enhancing the treatment outcomes. “Surgeons require extensive training before performing this procedure as it requires immense technical skills and expertise,” Dr Manohar T said. Dr. Manish Mattoo, Chief Executive Officer – Karnataka Region, Apollo Hospitals, said “Apollo Hospitals has been consistent in revolutionising India’s healthcare with the expertise of its doctors and cutting-edge infrastructure. MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy will play a significant role in making prostate cancers completely curable and enhancing the quality of life of patients by detecting it at the earliest.” Mr. Uday Davda, Unit Head – Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, Bangalore said “It is a matter of great privilege and honour for us to be able to be a part of this ground-breaking breakthrough in early cancer detection. Apollo Hospitals has always been a pioneer in driving technology innovations in India’s healthcare. MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy will certainly revolutionise prostate cancer detection and treatment by providing optimal clinical outcomes.”

Mr. Vinod K Patel and Mr. Md Mansoor underwent successful liver transplants at Apollomedics Hospital Lucknow. Relatives of both the patients who donated part of their liver are also healthy. Mr. Vinod K Patel and Mr. Md Mansoor had reached a state of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice and impaired thinking. On getting tested by the doctors at Prayagraj, it was found that their livers were severely damaged and transplant was the only option left. They were advised to go to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai or Hyderabad for liver transplant. But the long distance and the added expenses were challenges for both the patients. Both these patients then consulted Dr. Waliullah Siddiqui, Consultant Surgical, Gastroenterology HPB & Liver Transplant at Apollo Hospital, Lucknow. Dr Siddiqui told them all about the liver transplant facilities available at Apollomedics Hospital Lucknow. He also explained in detail about the cases of successful liver transplant already done at Apollomedics Hospital. The transplant was successful due to the superspecialist doctors and ultramodern medical equipment available at Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow. Both the patients and donors are completely healthy now. MD & CEO, Apollomedics Hospital, Dr Mayank Somani said, “Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital is the first private hospital in the state, apart from NCR, to be licensed for heart and lung transplant along with other organ transplants. Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow has an in-house team of super specialist doctors present 24×7, who can take a quick decision on the need for a transplant and perform a timely transplant, which can save a patient’s life.” Dr. Somani explained, “The liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate. Only 25% of the original liver tissue is needed for this to happen. If a person needs a liver transplant and a close relative donates a small part of the liver, it returns to its original size in about four weeks.” Dr. Waliullah Siddiqui said, “Post-transplant, patients have to visit the hospital frequently for follow-up so that doctors can regularly check their recovery and acceptance status of the transplanted liver. It is very convenient for the patients of Prayagraj to travel to Lucknow and meet the doctor regularly for follow-up. Every year in India, due to the unavailability of donated organs, the lives of about 5 lakh people are at risk. This is because India has one of the lowest rates of voluntary organ donation in the world. The biggest reason for this is lack of awareness, along with religious beliefs, cultural misconceptions and prejudices. If the organ of a relative is not available, the waiting period of the patients needing organ transplant becomes longer.

In a rare case of esophageal diverticulum, a 59-year-old man from Yangon, Myanmar underwent a successful robot assisted minimally invasive surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. The man had been complaining of frequent episodes of vomiting/regurgitation of food after almost every meal since the last 4 years. He had visited multiple doctors in his native country but inability to come to an accurate diagnosis had resulted in him being dependent on medications. He was finally diagnosed to have an esophageal diverticulum in 2021, however could travel to India only in August, 2022, once all travel restrictions due to COVID were lifted. At Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, he was admitted under the care of Dr Deepak Govil, Senior Consultant and Head, Surgical Gastroenterology and Dr Vivek Tandon, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology. After an endoscopy and CT scan, the presence of an esophageal diverticulum (pouch) was confirmed and the patient was advised to undergo surgical procedure to remove the pouch. Speaking about this procedure, Dr Deepak Govil, Senior Consultant and Head, Surgical Gastroenterology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi said, “In this case the diverticulum was located 6cm above the junction of food pipe with the stomach. The pouch was located in an area which is difficult to access at surgery and conventional open surgery for such a problem would require a large incision, sometimes extending from the abdomen to the chest. Therefore, he was recommended robot assisted minimally invasive surgical procedure.” Dr Vivek Tandon, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi said, “For this procedure Robotic instruments and telescope with attached camera were placed inside the patient’s abdominal cavity and the patient was operated. Robotic instruments have manoeuvrability akin to the human wrist and fingers in multiple planes allowing for precise surgical dissection in a three dimensional field of vision.” Apollo Hospitals has always been at the forefront of introducing the best of technology to ensure successful clinical outcomes. For robot assisted surgeries Apollo Hospitals has a robust team of experts along with dedicated facility/ OTs to conduct these highly skilled procedures. Across its units in India Apollo Hospitals has performed multiple robot assisted procedures for health complications under specialities like Orthopaedics, Spine, Cardiology, ENT, Urology, Gynaecology, Gastrointestinal surgery, Bariatrics and Paediatrics.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Apollo Hospitals have announced the signing of a MoU for collaborative research in the clinical application of AI and other areas of mutual interest in healthcare technology. This first-of-its-kind formal collaboration between Asia’s largest integrated healthcare provider, and a globally renowned institution of technology, engineering and Computer Science, is a formal recognition of the rapid convergence of healthcare and technology that is transforming the practice of medicine. Prof. AR Harish, Dean R&D, IIT Kanpur and Prof. Krishnan Ganapathy, Director Apollo Telemedicine, Apollo Hospitals, signed the MoU in the presence of Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director of IIT Kanpur, and Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, among others. Apollo Research and Innovations (ARI), a department of Apollo Hospitals has been spearheading medical research, innovation, health education, teaching and clinical deployment of AI for over two decades. The first to have ISO certified AI-based clinical applications to predict the risk of developing lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, COPD and asthma, and liver fibrosis, Apollo Hospitals has proven these in clinical practice after intensive studies with globally renowned partners from the academia and industry. The collaboration with IIT Kanpur will build on this foundation and expand the domain of research and development in healthcare technology. Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group welcomed the MoU. He said, “Apollo has been at the forefront of providing patients with access to the latest in medical technology. The group has also been very active in developing the new generation of healthcare talent. With two medical colleges, a medical school in the UK, an Apollo University and 20 institutions providing advanced training in Nursing and Hospital Administration, Ph.D programmes and 625 DNB seats in specialities and super specialities, we look forward to our experience and expertise adding value to the innovative research done at IIT Kanpur. The collaboration will provide teaching and research opportunities to those inside and outside the Apollo ecosystem.” Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director IIT Kanpur, said, “Being a research and educational institution of national importance, IIT Kanpur has consistently invested in imparting and undertaking cutting-edge multi-disciplinary research in science, technology and engineering in association with industry and other institutions. The Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology that is coming up at IIT Kanpur is in line with IIT Kanpur’s endeavor to bring about a paradigm shift by merging medical research and technological innovations in the country. Now, with this MoU with Apollo Hospitals, we envision to have fruitful collaborations in areas such as AI in health and other emerging innovations that will contribute towards making India’s healthcare systems robust and self-reliant.” Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director Apollo Hospitals Group reiterated that implementation of all aspects of Digital Health are now radically transforming the delivery of health care and the formal collaboration with IIT Kanpur would further accelerate this endeavour. Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, HoD, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Department, and Chair for Entrepreneurship & Innovation IIT Kanpur, is optimistic that this collaboration would identify several focused areas of mutual interest and result in impactful outcomes. Prof Krishnan Ganapathy, Director Apollo Telemedicine, who is also a Distinguished Hon. Professor at IIT Kanpur, would be the principal coordinator for this joint collaboration.

In a case of a large parapharyngeal space tumour, (tumour in the deep tissues of the neck, nerves, lymph nodes, and parts of the salivary gland) a 21-year-old boy underwent a successful robot-assisted Trans – Oral surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. Mr. Prince Kumar was having complaints of dysphagia and dyspnea (difficulty in swallowing and breathing) and muffled speech With his condition deteriorating, the boy was referred to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi on 18th November 2022. He was admitted under Dr Kalpana Nagpal, Senior Consultant and Robotic Surgeon, ENT Head and Neck Surgery and Dr Anil Sharma, Senior Consultant, Anaesthesia, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. Upon, further tests, it was found that patient’s tumour required a surgery and we gave him the option of Trans – Oral robot-assisted surgery. Robot-assisted surgery helps provide a better view of tumour around it and uses more precise movements in tiny spaces of the mouth. It also prevents excessive blood loss and nerve damage. No external cuts are given. The other option is the conventional surgery that requires external cut on the neck. Speaking about this procedure, Dr Kalpana Nagpal, Senior Consultant and Robotic Surgeon, ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi said, “Prince was facing difficulty in swallowing and breathing. The patient underwent robot-assisted Trans – Oral surgery to remove a very large parapharyngeal space tumour from the side of the throat. Prince was provided awake- anaesthesia using a fibre optic laryngoscope as conventional general anaesthesia by nose or throat without a tracheostomy was nearly impossible. Additionally, it was difficult to deliver such a large tumour without any external cuts. Prince underwent surgery on 19th November 2022 and it was performed under 3D vision with ten times the magnification using the new Xi Da Vinci robot. The tumour was removed in two parts. This was managed without a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. Both anaesthesia and Trans Oral removal was a challenge. He was discharged in less than 24 hours on 21st November, 2022 in a stable condition.

Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata prevented loss of vision in a 6-year-old, Master Rudranjan Sinhababu, who was suffering from severe sinusitis with right sided orbital cellulitis. From the first week of December 2022, the baby, a resident of Jirabad, Bankura had fever along with cold and cough. Master Rudranjan was brought by his worried parents to Dr Shantanu Panja, Senior ENT – Head & Neck Surgeon at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata on December 10, 2022. Upon receiving the patient, treatment was started immediately and investigations were carried out. CT Scan revealed that the child had extensive sinusitis with right sided orbital cellulitis. An urgent surgery was carried out by Dr Panja and his team on December 12, 2022. As the pressure on the eye was relieved and pus was evacuated the child improved dramatically within 48 hours with resolution of swelling, improvement in vision and complete restoration of colour vision. Throughout the stay the child’s medical management was carried out under the care of Dr Kaushik Moulik, Consultant Paediatrics, Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Kolkata and his team. Read more about how doctors at Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata saved the eyesight of a 6-year-old boy

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC)has successfully performed Asia’s first Radical pleurectomy with HITHOC (Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy) on a 16-year-old adolescent from Kerala. In early 2020, 16-year-old adolescent was detected to have Ewing’s Sarcoma of the left intra thoracic cavity for which the patient underwent neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation with maintenance chemotherapy. Post treatment when the recurrence of the cancer was deducted within 6 months, the patient approached APCC, Chennai for further treatment. The team of clinicians examined the case and conducted tests to chart out the multi-step surgery and treatments for the unique case. The treatment performed by Dr Khader Hussain, Consultant, Surgical Oncologist (Thoracic) & Robotic Surgeon and Dr Abhijit Das, Consultant, Surgical Oncologist (Thoracic) & Robotic Surgeon, consisted of Radical pleurectomy, pericardiectomy, wedge resection of left lung, en-bloc resection of the intrathoracic mass followed by HITHOC (Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy). This treatment of radical surgery with HITHOC is a first-of-its-kind in Asia for an adolescent. Read more Asia’s first Radical Pleurectomy with HITHOC performed on an adolescent

Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai has successfully performed 11 pediatric cardiac interventions on 11 children from Washim district in Maharashtra. The interventions were performed back to back in 11 hours with no morbidity or mortality. These 11 children aged between 4 years and 13 years had congenital heart disease, that if left untreated could lead to serious long-term problems if not treated. Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai also treats patients under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) scheme. Under RBSK scheme, district medical officers screen and identify children with congenital heart diseases and specialist doctors confirm the diagnosis and provide treatment. The treatment provided to the patients are covered under this scheme, thus, helping their families drastically reduce the expenditure incurred on the treatment. Dr Bhushan Chavan, Pediatric Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, said, “In September, our team visited Washim Civil Hospital wherein we did echocardiography for 120 children suspected to have congenital heart disease. Of the 120 children, 35 of them had congenital heart disease. Out of 35 children, 40% were planned for treatment through angiography. With permission from the Civil Hospital, the children were brought to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai for angiography device closure procedure. On the day of the procedure, the doctors started operating by 7:30 am and performed one surgery after another. Out of the 11 cases, five of them had peri-membranous vascular disease which was challenging but yet completed. The children were discharged post-op day three. The entire operation was smooth with no adverse events. These children do not require any other interventions besides follow up at the end of one month and then after 6 months. The remaining children will also be treated at Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai. Mr. Santosh Marathe, Regional CEO – Western Region, Apollo Hospitals, said, “At our hospital we have undertaken more than 350 pediatric cardiac cases till date of which 40% were international patients. We have also done 60 cases completely free of cost. All 11 children have been discharged and returned to their homes in Washim with zero complications. We are extremely delighted that we could help and provide treatment to the children who need it the most. Performing back-to-back 11 surgeries required a lot of planning and hard work from the team. This unique feat was only possible due to the experienced clinicians and skilled clinical team in our hospital”