Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad has accomplished a rare distinction of successfully treating three patients with acute blood cancer ailments, who were in a precarious condition when they came to the hospital. These patients were suffering from rare Bone Marrow Stem Cell Disorders of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) – a bone marrow stem cell disease, which leads to rapid destruction of red cells; Biphenotypic Acute Leukemia – a rare type of Blood cancer with less than 8% survival rate and Aplastic Anaemia – a disease of Bone marrow, which curtails blood cells production. The matching stem cell donor for one of the patients was from Germany as no such donor was available here. Briefing the media about the stupendous accomplishment, Dr Padmaja Lokireddy, Consultant Haemato – oncology and Stem cell Transplant, Apollo Cancer Institute; Mr Y Subramaniam, CEO and Dr Ravindra Babu, Medical Superintendent, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad said that stem cell transplant is cure for many blood disorders; Apollo Cancer Institute is one of the few Centers in the country with the necessary expertise and is geared to provide succour to such patients. Mr Biswajit Saha, a 37 year old farmer hailing from Assam, was suffering from rare bone marrow stem cell disorder called PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria), which occurs in 1 amongst a 10 lakh population. He was suffering with Anaemia, red coloured urine due to breakage of his red blood cells for the last two years. Such patients develop blood clots in the main blood vessels and if left untreated can develop life threatening heart and lung problems. Mr. Saha was transfused with blood at regular intervals, at times, 3 units a week. His visits to several doctors couldn’t get him relief and was mostly misdiagnosed and treated for a liver ailment. His condition deteriorated over time as he had developed lung and heart problems and was breathless on minimal exertion. That’s when he approached Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad and our diagnosis identified it as PNH. The option available for Mr. Saha was an antibody treatment called Eculizumab(solaris), to be taken every week for lifetime. This medication is not available currently in India and is also way beyond his means, costing Rs 8 lakhs per week. Hence, the second-best treatment option was bone marrow transplant. He has undergone the first known PNH transplant in India four months ago, with the bone marrow donated by his brother. He has since recovered fully and is going about with his daily routine, in his village. Since the transplant he has not needed any blood transfusion and his lung and heart functions reverted to normal. A thirty-one-year-old, mother of two, Mrs Kavitha, was diagnosed with Biphenotypic Acute Leukemia, a lethal ailment with two different types of blood cancers – acute Myeloid and Acute Lymphoid Leukemia, manifesting simultaneously. She had 98% disease in the bone marrow, in the chest and abdomen, cancer cells were detected even in the brain. The survival rate of patients with this type of leukemia was a dismal 8%. The initial dose of chemotherapy proved futile as the disease in her was virulent and had to take recourse to administering two other aggressive types of chemotherapy to gain control over it. However, the permanent cure was to perform a Bone marrow transplant on her. The strong dosage of chemotherapy took a serious toll on her condition and she had to be infused with nutritional support through her veins daily, to improve her weight and prepare her for a Transplant. The next seemingly insurmountable challenge we had on our hand was not finding a matching donor from amongst her family members and our attempt to locate a full match for her in the Indian, German and American registries proved in vain. We had to compromise with a donor of a different blood group with 90% match from Bangalore. The Transplant performed with all the associated challenges was of very high risk and extremely complex. Subsequent to the transplant, she contracted Cytomegalovirus virus infection which she fought through and has now crossed 100 days which is a giant milestone in the transplant process. Her blood test reveals 99% of Donor DNA type which gives reassurance that her Leukemia is cured. The third patient, Mrs Prathima, a 32 year old lady was diagnosed with Aplastic anaemia three years ago and had very low platelet count and anaemia. Such patients are highly susceptible to infections and need regular blood and platelet transfusion. The initial option of Horse serum (ATG) treatment did not have long lasting success. The only chance of cure for her was bone marrow Transplantation, for which she came to Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad. She didn’t have a matching family donor but our search for a full 100% matching donor helped locate one in Germany. We had donor stem cells collected and airlifted fresh within 24 hours from there. Since her transplant, she had not had any major complications and didn’t need any platelet transfusions. Dr Padmaja Lokireddy said “It’s a moment of immense fulfilment for me and the entire team at Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad, for successfully treating patients with three complex and rare blood cancer ailments needing bone marrow transplantation. The outcome being on par with the best international institutions, gives us the impetus to take on bigger challenges and be the centre of excellence for treating complex blood cancer ailments in this part of the world”.

The 9th edition of Apollo Hospital’s International Clinical Nutrition Update (AICNU) Conference, held in Mumbai was organised by the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics arm of Apollo Hospitals Group. The annual conference serves as a core knowledge exchange platform to distinguished Clinical Nutritionists and Dieticians from around the globe to highlight the latest advancements and updates in the field of Clinical Nutrition. The Conference also aims to provide healthcare practitioners with an understanding of the central role of nutrition in healthcare. The theme of this year’s conference was “Connecting Evidence to Clinical Nutrition Practice”. Over 550 delegates across 10 countries came together for 2 days to share best practices. The Conference was designed to have a wide variety of formats including debates, lectures, symposia, abstracts sessions, discussions, and presentations that highlighted important issues like nutrition in intestinal failure, in surgical oncology, immunonutrition, hospital malnutrition and clinical nutrition research. AICNU’s scientific committee received 75 research abstracts in the run-up to the Conference. The conference’s eminent jury have adjudged five abstracts of distinction. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The theme of this year’s conference, Connecting Evidence to Clinical Nutrition Practice is very apt. It has been clearly demonstrated that failure to meet the nutritional needs of a hospitalized patient delays recovery from major illnesses. Hospital – based nutritional intervention is a team effort which involves optimal contribution from the treating physician or surgeon, dietitian/clinical nutritionist and nurse practitioners.” Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “At Apollo Hospitals, we believe in evidence-based care. Our Clinical Nutrition team works closely with clinical teams in developing patient-specific nutrition. Clinical Nutritionists play a pivotal role in patient recovery and it is important that they stay abreast of global trends and developments in the field. This conference is an attempt to provide such a platform.” Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “AICNU is a leading opportunity for clinical dieticians, academic faculty, research experts in nutrition and dietetics and talented student communities, providing an ideal environment to share the latest innovations in Nutrition and Dietetics. The aim of AICNU is to provide a comprehensive platform to converse about the newest research and novelties in the arena of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, aiming to bring best practices of Nutritional Therapies and Treatments in various challenging medical conditions. Dr. Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, Group Chief Dietitian, Apollo Hospitals & Organizing Chairperson of the event said, “The importance of Clinical Nutritionists role in the healthcare domain need not be overemphasized. It is very important for all practicing dietitians and clinical nutritionists to consistently and constantly upgrade their knowledge on the latest trends in clinical nutrition and practice evidence-based nutrition”. Dr. Narendra D Trivedi, CEO – Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai said, “Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai is proud to be hosting this event for the first time within one year of its launch. Our eminent speakers will explain how to evaluate the benefits and risks of nutritional recommendations for specific health conditions through an analysis of the existing scientific and clinical evidence”.

Dun & Bradstreet, the world’s leading provider of global business information, knowledge and insight, presented the ‘Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Awards 2017’ to Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited in the Healthcare sector. Dun & Bradstreet has been tracking the performance of India Inc. since 1997 through its premier publication, ‘India’s Top 500 Companies’. Since 2006, Dun & Bradstreet has taken a step further to felicitate the torchbearers among the Indian corporates, through the presentation of the Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Awards. This year was the 11th edition of the Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Awards and was held at Mumbai on 1st June. The top corporates from 49 sectors were felicitated on the occasion. The ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Honourable Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Government of India. Others present at the event were Mr. Rajju Shroff, Chairman, UPL Limited; Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, Founder & Executive Chairman, Capital First Limited; Mr. Joshua Peirez, President & Chief Operating Officer, Dun & Bradstreet; Mr. Manish Sinha, Managing Director – India, Dun & Bradstreet and Mr. Kaushal Sampat, Chief Business Advisor – India, Dun & Bradstreet. In addition, the eminent dignitaries also included the representatives from the companies featured in the Top 500 Companies list. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Joshua Peirez, President & Chief Operating Officer, Dun & Bradstreet said, “We’re very excited to have the leaders of India’s Top 500 Companies here today – all of you have contributed to the growth that we have seen in India over the last two decades, and the future looks bright. Clearly there is potential for further growth in India so long as we continue to have great entrepreneurs and businesses to unlock this.”

The objective of the survey by Times research was to arrive at a list of Top Super Speciality Hospitals in India. The specialties that were included in the research were Cardio Sciences, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Urology, Nephrology, Neuro Sciences, Oncology, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Paediatrics & Emergency & Trauma.

On May 21, 2017, it was moment of great pride for all in the Apollo family, the healthcare fraternity and also for all in India that our Vice Chairperson, Ms. Shobana Kamineni was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science by the prestigious Bryant University, USA. The prestigious honour was bestowed upon her as recognition of her life’s work in healthcare & pharmaceuticals and her leadership role in business expansion in India. On all our behalf, we offer our heartiest felicitations to our Vice Chairperson and thank her for passionate perseverance in making Apollo stand taller across the world. Mr. Ronald K. Machtley, President of Bryant University said that the honorary degrees this year were being bestowed upon three highly accomplished individuals, Ms. Shobana Kamineni, Vice Chairperson, AHEL, Mr. Jeffrey R Immelt, Chairman & CEO, General Electric and Kati Machtley, Co-Founder and Director, Bryant Women’s Summit for their stellar achievements in business and contributions to their country. Since 1863, the Bryant University, a private New England University with a tradition of innovation and global vision for success has been preparing its students with knowledge, skills and qualities of character to succeed in an interconnected world of unlimited global opportunity.  

Only 10 percent out of 35 percent adults with hypertension in Hyderabad and Telangana know that they are suffering from high blood pressure. This could lead to a massive increase in cardiovascular diseases in the country, warned health experts. Interacting with the media on the occasion of World Hypertension Day on Wednesday, Hypertension specialist Dr. C Venkata S Ram said that awareness is the key to prevent complications. A large population with uncontrolled hypertension despite medication is a serious concern as untreated hypertension can lead to stroke, heart failure and premature heart attack. “If not treated, it can lead to problems like kidney failure and paralysis,” he said. BP should be checked even in schools, colleges and IT firms, he added. BP should to be treated indefinitely. “BP medicines are not like antibiotics. Patients cannot stop them. If hypertension is being noticed in a person for the first time, it should be tracked carefully,” he said. Most people have misunderstood that medicines can be stopped after the BP is controlled. In some patients, high BP could be as a result of “secondary” hypertension like thyroid gland disease, adrenal grand problem etc . Hypertension also manifests differently in different people. It is observed that BP in some people goes high when they are at a doctor’s place or in hospital but normal outside. It is denoted as white coat hypertension. In some people, the situation is reverse and it’s called reverse white coat hypertension or masked hypertension. This can be diagnosed by the measuring 24-hour blood pressure (at work and home) with an automatic machine. If BP in the heart increases, patients will be at a higher risk. Hypertension during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous for both the mother and the foetus. Excessive alcohol use and pain relievers also can cause high BP. Unlike other ailments, hypertension does not manifest quite early. A majority of people suffering from hypertension realise only when things become complicated. Ironically, even the people who are aware that they are suffering from hypertension do not seek medical help. Hypertension can be controlled quite easily. One should always keep a tab on one’s blood pressure and if any abnormality is observed he or she should consult a doctor for medical advice and help.

Little did Ashok Panda, a fisherman, know that the fish he had gone to catch will directly jump to his mouth and get stuck in his throat. Panda, a resident of Podadiha village of Balasore district, was first admitted to a local hospital where the Doctors failed to bring out the fish and shifted him to SCB Medical College and Hospital and later to Apollo Hospital. Giving a new lease of life to Panda, the doctors finally pulled out the fish from his throat. The fish was identified as Climbing Perch or ‘Kou’ and was alive when completely taken out from the man’s throat. A team of doctors from Apollo Hospitals successfully removed the fish with the help of a mouth gag. Dr. Sanjeev Gupta, Senior consultant of ENT Department and Dr. Suryakant Pradhan, Junior Consultant were behind the successful treatment. Dr Pradhan said “The patient came to us on April 23 after conducting an X-ray at SCB Medical in Cuttack. As he was choking and in excruciating pain, we took him to the emergency operation theatre where he was administered local anaesthesia in the sitting position. Mouth gag was applied and the fish was caught with forceps. The patient’s condition is good and is talking normally. He has been discharged from the hospital”. Describing his ordeal, Panda said “I was cleaning our pond and at that time I was holding a fish which suddenly jumped into my mouth and got stuck in my throat. After doctors at SCB Medical said they couldn’t give guarantee, I came to Apollo where the fish was successfully pulled out.”  

The patient, Mr Tanveer Ahmed, aged 48 yrs, was taken up for gastroscopy under conscious sedation. Intragastric balloon was introduced with the help of an endoscope. Endoscopic bariatric therapy is a useful alternative to pharmacological treatment for obesity, with lower risks than conventional surgical procedures. The Intragastric balloon is associated with significant efficacy in body weight reduction and relief of comorbid disease symptoms among the various endoscopy options. This treatment is based on gastric space-occupying effects that increase the feeling of satiety and may also affect gut neuroendocrine signalling. The simplicity of the intragastric balloon procedure accounts for its widespread role in obesity treatment and its applicability to various degrees of obesity

One Lakh Hands – one of India's largest and most successful community sensitization platform on socio-cultural issues launched its campaign for the year, focused on someone dear to all of us, but often neglects herself – MOM, with the theme ‘She chases you for life, now chase her back for an active life’, on the occasion of Mothers’ day at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills. The occasion was graced by Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals; Actor; Model Mr. Milind Soman, accompanied by his mother Mrs. Usha Soman and Mr. Pullela Gopichand, Chief Coach, Indian Badminton. As part of the campaign, one lakh people will be directly enrolled for the adopted cause and they in turn would act as catalysts in bringing behavioural change and creating a ripple effect on the society. For the year 2017, One Lakh Hands creators have chosen the cause of “Happy and Healthy Mom”. As per the National Health Survey 2016, Hyderabad is ranked no 1 in cases of women’s obesity in India. Mothers often tend to neglect their own health at the cost of their family’s well-being. Their health takes a backseat after childbirth. Most mothers are malnourished and are woefully short on physical exercise. They endure ill health and postpone seeking medical attention, just to avoid upsetting the daily routine at home. Often such neglect and sacrifices reflect at a later stage leading to chronic ailments as they get old. The campaign started with a three-day art exhibition with works of Artist Kant Risa on the theme Mother and Child, on display at Apollo Hospitals. The guests and visitors at the well-attended launch program were presented with greeting cards with the imprints of the paintings to pen affectionate messages for their mothers. The launch was followed by a sustained campaign to further the cause and reach the message to a cross section of the society. As part of this, the expo will be taken to various Corporates, Hotels, educational institutions, besides hosting events all year round. Apollo Hospitals, which always emphasized on disease prevention, as a health partner, will bolster this initiative by organizing regular talks on women health, workshops on preventive care, extend its internationally acknowledged health check programs at a subsidized price and support all the health and wellness activities, especially meant for mothers and women at large.

23-year-old Promi Kassa from Bangladesh has been suffering from multiple joint pains due to Systemic lupus Erythematous for the past 7 years. Pain, swelling & deformities gradually worsened and over the last 2 years she had pain even while resting or lying down. She was unable to stand due to pain and even wheel chair mobilization was very painful, making her life miserable. She came to Delhi, India and met Dr Rohini Handa, Senior Rheumatologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and was advised and started on special disease modifying drugs. However, drugs also did not help. Detailed investigations revealed destruction of both hip joints. Dr Handa referred her to Dr Yash Gulati, Senior Consultant – Joint Replacement Surgeon. She was thoroughly assessed by Dr Yash Gulati. She was found to be a frail, young girl in constant pain in spite of pain killers, unable to attend to her daily needs and unable to mobilize even in wheel chair. Inspite of her young age, Dr Gulati recommended Total Hip Replacement of both hips. Normally hip replacement is reserved for elderly and to offer this surgery to such a young girl was a difficult decision. Bilateral Hip replacement has never been done in India for this age group before. Dr Gulati had done one Hip Replacement in a 13-year-old Patient from Nigeria who was suffering from Sickle Cell Disease. However, in this case, the patient wanted to get out of her misery and in consultation with her family, she enthusiastically accepted the option of having both Hips replaced. All disease modifying drugs including Biological agents were stopped. Her nutrition was built up and once she was found fit for surgery, she was admitted for Total Hip Replacement. Left Hip Replacement was done in November 2016 and Right Hip Replacement was done in December 2016. Special type of implants were used which are likely to last for many years. Both the surgeries were successful and she was taken through a regimen of extensive Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. The patient has completely recovered & is walking independently and as a matter of fact she is even able to do light jogs. Indeed, her life has now changed from one with pain and misery to freedom from pain and hope.  

The new Apollo Cancer Institute will offer specialty healthcare of international standards with outcomes matching those of the world’s best hospitals. The Cancer institute, after completion will have two state of the art Linear Accelerator radiation machines to offer the latest radiation therapy treatment and Bone Marrow Transplant. This institute will also have Brachytherapy, whose function is to place radioactive sources inside the patient on a temporary or permanent basis to damage cancer cells’ DNA and destroy their ability to divide and grow. Apart from the above two technologies, the institute will also have Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET CT). The new cancer block will be a five-storey building. Speaking on the occasion Shri Patnaik said, “When operational, this new Cancer Hospital will be a boon to Odisha’s cancer patients as they will get best-in-class treatment right here without having to travel to other states. Incidence of breast and cervical cancers among women in Orissa is high and both need special treatment, which this new hospital will provide”. Dr Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The Apollo Cancer Institute in Bhubaneswar will serve the people of Odisha and also patients from neighbouring States. At Apollo, we firmly believe that Cancer is Conquerable and this ethos motivates us to keep pushing the boundaries in cancer care. Our battle against this disease has spanned over two decades; it has witnessed several momentous milestones and set new benchmarks in the country. We are very grateful to farsighted leaders like the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik ji for encouraging us in our endeavour to introduce cutting edge Oncology into Odisha as Apollo is passionately committed to always bringing in the best in cancer care for its fellow citizens.” Shri Sudhir M. Diggikar, Regional Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Hospitals, Odisha & Chhattisgarh region added, “Apollo Hospitals has always taken the lead in providing superior quality healthcare and this Cancer Hospital when complete, will benefit the people of Odisha and the neighbouring states by providing them complete cancer care under one roof.” The facility also helps in increasing the overall bed capacity of the hospital by 50 additional beds. This simultaneously addresses the ever-increasing demand for intensive care beds, a speciality where Apollo Hospitals-Bhubaneswar has been the most preferred choice by the people of Odisha. The new block would also accommodate our second Cath Lab, dialysis beds, OPD chambers & a dedicated chemotherapy day care ward. Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, being a leader in healthcare, has always set up new avenues for catering to the health requirements of society at large. It has brought state-of the-art and advanced medical technology and services to the people of the State, while striving to augment capacities of doctors, paramedics and medical workers.

The Patient, Mr. Rasolonjatovo Honore, Member of the Parliament of Madagascar developed impaired vision that progressed rapidly over a month. His vision deteriorated to the extent that he needed support to move around. He was diagnosed with a tumour in the pituitary gland, situated near the optic nerve in the brain. Dr. Arun L Naik, Neurosurgeon and Dr. Pradeep Hosamani, ENT and Skull Base surgeon performed the endoscopic surgery on the 60-year-old Patient at Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore. “These tumours need surgery through the brain. This method is highly invasive and can lead to many complications such as paralysis and squint. These tumours can now be removed through the nose with a 6-mm endoscope. It is very precise, safe, minimally invasive and available only in advanced centres. This procedure is used to remove complex tumours from the underside and inside of the brain” said Dr. Naik. Endoscopic Brain surgery is a scarless procedure and recover is very rapid unlike in the case of traditional brain surgery. “An endoscope can also be integrated with a neuro-navigation system that maps critical areas of the brain to ensure safety and prevent damage to the brain cells” added Dr. Naik. Mr. Honore was referred to Apollo Hospitals by his doctor in Madagascar. “I am very happy with treatment here. I cans see as good as I use to before I developed the tumour” said Honore.