Apollo Hospitals, a state-of-the art, multi-specialty tertiary care, today organized a press conference on successfully performing India’s 1st complex hernia surgery, on 101 year-old, Mr. Ram Chandra, Retired Tahsildar, Belgaum, now settled in Navi Mumbai. The complex surgery was performed by a highly experienced team of laparoscopic surgeons. Mr. Ram Chandra, was diagnosed with Hernia, at the age of 90. He had been advised against the gastrointestinal surgery, considering his age and risks associated with it. He continued to live with the hernia until recently. He was presented at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai with a lot of pain and swelling, associated with recurrent episodes of vomiting due to irreducible groin hernia. It had become increasingly difficult for him to manage even his daily activities including walking and eating. On a thorough examination, Dr Shalin Dubey, Consultant, Laparoscopic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, diagnosed that Mr. Ram Chandra had inguinoscrotal irreducible hernia near the groin and it was complex in nature. Considering his age, the specialists took a multi-disciplinary team approach which was backed by state-of-the art infrastructure and technology. The surgery was performed on 19th October, 2016. Since then, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, has closely monitored his progress and post discharge Mr. Ram Chandra has recovered well. Dr Shalin Dubey, Consultant, Laparoscopic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, explained, “Hernia surgeries are among the most common, however, this particular case was complex in nature due to his age. With advancements in surgical techniques and safe anesthesia, we were successfully able to treat the hernia of 15 cms in size. A major part of his small intestine was part of the hernia sac, which was treated and a mesh was placed. With this successful surgery, we are confident that he shall continue to be more active and lead a better quality of life.” Dr Narendra Trivedi, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, said, “Apollo Hospitals, backed by state-of-the art technology and clinical expertise, is delivering superior clinical outcomes. This successful complex surgery is another milestone of the Group’s clinical achievements and with this we strive to continually provide world-class health care services.” Inguinal Hernia: An inguinal hernia is a condition in which intra-abdominal fat or part of the small intestine, also called the small bowel, bulges through an opening or weak area in the lower abdominal muscles. An inguinal hernia appears as a bulge on one or both sides of the groin and can occur any time from infancy to adulthood. Inguinal hernias are much more common in males than females and tend to become larger over time About Mr. Ram Chandra: Shri. Ram Chandra, born on November 1st 1915, leads a simple and disciplined life. He holds a positive attitude towards his life and considers that keeping himself busy in some work keeps him physically and mentally healthy. He worked for 63 years continuously in three different  

The 10-bedded facility, which operates round-the-clock, is equipped with world-class infrastructure including ECMO, an experienced team of pulmonologists and specially trained respiratory ITU personnel, to help address all acute respiratory ailments and complications. ECMO, or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation is an advanced device that ensures proper oxygenation of the blood in the case of a respiratory failure, by circulating it through an artificial lung. It acts as an extension of the heart-lung machine, providing bypass support to help the patient overcome respiratory distress. Lung diseases account for about 11% of all deaths in India, making it the second most common cause for morbidity in the country. What makes this an even greater source of concern is that acute respiratory infections, the leading cause for lung-related mortality, have registered an alarming 30% growth between 2010 and 2015. A comprehensive facility, capable of handling all respiratory emergencies, which can pose a major threat to the life and wellbeing of the patient, is therefore the need of the hour. A Senior Pulmonologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, said, “Our Respiratory ITU is capable of treating patients with Acute Type 1 and Type 2 respiratory failures due to diseases like severe pneumonia, a severe exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and others. With dedicated isolation facilities for those in need of barrier nursing, and ECMO for addressing instances of advanced respiratory failure, we are prepared to address all major respirational challenges, which are registering a significant growth due to pollution and seasonal variations.” Dr Rupali Basu, President and CEO Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, observed, “Quality, innovation, and patient safety are the cornerstones of the services provided at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata. The inauguration of the first dedicated comprehensive Respiratory ITU in the region is a reaffirmation of our continued dedication to these ideals, and bears testimony of an unshakeable commitment towards transforming the entire healthcare landscape of the region. We will continue to strengthen our multi-disciplinary capabilities, and look to play a key role in the battle against lung ailments and emergencies.”  

Strengthening its ‘Precision Oncology’ focus, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkatas, which pioneered the concept of comprehensive cancer care in the region, has expanded the ambit of its state-of-the-art Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Bone Marrow Transplant is a critical process which involves the replacement of damaged or destroyed bone marrow (soft fatty tissues inside the bones that produce the different kinds of blood cells) by healthy bone marrow stem cells. While the traditional method required a matched donor (a sibling), the team at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata is now undertaking haploidentical (either parent can be a donor) and even unrelated donor transplants. This latest advancement, available in only a handful of institutes across the country, helps ensure that all those in need of a transplant now, have a better chance of finding a stem cell donor. Supported by world-class facilities including NAT-tested (nucleic acid tested) blood products, post-transplant drug level and infection monitoring, and round-the-clock multi-disciplinary care, patients can now therefore look forward to better and improved outcomes. Dr Anupam Chakrapani, Haematologist and Haemato-Oncologist, said, “Given the cost and complexities, Bone Marrow Transplants were traditionally reserved for malignant conditions like Lymphoma, Leukaemia, Multiple Myeloma and some Germ Cell Tumours. However, latest advancements in the domain have also allowed us to extend the benefits of this advanced procedure to combat the menace of non-malignant, but none the less critical, conditions like Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia. Comprehensive peritransplant care facilities and a focused approach have helped improve results, even in the area of haplo- and unrelated donor transplants.” Dr Rupali Basu, President and CEO Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, observed, “Last year, about 1600 bone marrow transplants were undertaken across the nation. A very small fraction of these procedures were undertaken in the eastern part of the country, inspiring us to strive towards elimination of this lacuna. Our team, supported by the latest infrastructure and best-in-class facilities, including the only NABH-certified Blood Bank in Eastern India, is therefore transforming the treatment paradigm, and consolidating our motto of ‘Touching Lives’. We will continue to build on our services, so that patients of the region can look forward to all treatment options at the convenience of the doorstep.”  

A three day meet between 16 and 18 November was organized by Indrprastha Apollo Hospitals to discuss the significant role of nurses in healthcare. The nursing conclave was themed ‘Leading change by changing the way you lead’ and witnessed key thought leaders from healthcare fraternity debate and discuss on how to evolve and empower the nursing fraternity in India. The conclave was aimed to recognize and appreciate the crucial role played by nurses in healthcare sector and to defining a strategy for improvement of techniques and patient safety. Captain Usha Banerjee, Group Director – Nursing, Apollo Hospitals Group, said: “Nursing is empirical to the reputation and reimbursement of the organization and every organization has to invest in its nursing workforce for its outcomes (financial / clinical / operational etc.). Apollo hospitals have always believed in the contribution of our nurses. The logo stands testimony to this fact. Nursing is at the cusp of a transformational voyage and opportunities are growing tremendously. To be an efficient nurse and a change agent, she/he must develop leadership skills.” Over 700 delegates from across the country participated in the Conclave. Nursing professionals of all age groups including Nurse Leaders, Managers, Front line Nurses, Nursing Operations Teams, Nursing Quality teams; Nurse Students and Teaching Faculty of training institutions of Nursing from all over the country attended the Conclave to share their knowledge & experience.  

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) public health degree launched at Apollo Hospitals is designed to strengthen the capacity of India’s medical workforce to respond to the major health challenges facing the country. The partnership between UNSW Australia and Medvarsity – Apollo Hospitals Group’s e-learning venture will see a new MPH (International) program offered in a fully-online mode in India for the first time. The Apollo Hospitals Group includes 64 hospitals and 1500 pharmacies as well as several hundred primary care and diagnostic clinics. UNSW is a top ranked global university and the degree will be offered through UNSW Medicine, one of the world’s top 50 medical schools. The need for this degree was identified by Medvarsity, which has been delivering joint courses in other subjects with UNSW for several years. The new degree, aimed at doctors and other health professionals, will be delivered and awarded by UNSW, with an internship at an Apollo health site to give students the chance to apply theory in practice in India. Indian students will join fellow health professionals from Australia and around the world in a virtual global classroom, learning essential public health theory and skills. A coveted internship will be at the Total Health Program in drought-stricken Aragonda, the birthplace of Dr. Prathap Reddy, Apollo’s founder and Chairman. “Total Health aims to prevent disease and build healthy, resilient communities,” Dr. Reddy said. “Non communicable disease is going to be the number one reason for mortality in India. A strong community and public health program will help doctors and hospitals be better prepared to deal with these diseases. Our partnership with UNSW will allow us to bring the best training available anywhere in the world on managing public health and offer it to our students in India. “We are delighted to bring this program to the next generation of health leaders in India through the Master of Public Health (International),” said Dr. Reddy. Head of the UNSW School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Professor Raina MacIntyre, said India faces a shortage of public health professionals as it responds to population level control of major diseases including diabetes, cancer and infectious diseases. “The new Master of Public Health (International) will help address the growing shortage of public health professionals in India. The flexible program is delivered fully online so that busy clinicians can keep working as they achieve this qualification,” Professor MacIntyre said. “They can retain their job and avoid the expense of living in Australia, and get a UNSW degree, while still attending our summer school in Sydney.” “The new Master of Public Health (International) program reflects these shared goals and builds on our considerable mutual strengths in health and education. I look forward to growing these enduring links between Australia and India,” Professor Jacobs said. Students enrolled in the Master of Public Health (International) will have access to advanced learning tools and technology with a fully comparable experience to face-to-face learning. “We have a huge demand for online learning, and in a rapidly changing world this is the future of education,” said Dr. Padmanesan Narasimhan, Program Director, Master of Public Health (International). “UNSW and Medvarsity have both recognized this need, and our partnership brings together the very best of both institutions to improve the public health workforce in India,” Dr. Narasimhan said. “At Apollo and Medvarsity we are always looking for the best education partners that can add value to our doctors and healthcare professionals. This partnership between Apollo Medvarsity and UNSW brings an exceptional, globally recognized master’s program to India. Through this course our students can also apply for jobs with global organizations including the World Health Organization and UNESCO,” said Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.    

University of New South Wales (UNSW) President and Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs, presented the honorary degree, said both organizations have common values and a shared commitment to creating a better world through improving healthcare. “The new Master of Public Health (International) program reflects these shared goals and builds on our considerable mutual strengths in health and education. I look forward to growing these enduring links between Australia and India,” Professor Jacobs said. Students enrolled in the Master of Public Health (International) will have access to advanced learning tools and technology with a fully comparable experience to face-to-face learning. “We have a huge demand for online learning, and in a rapidly changing world this is the future of education,” said Dr. Padmanesan Narasimhan, Program Director, Master of Public Health (International). “UNSW and Medvarsity have both recognized this need, and our partnership brings together the very best of both institutions to improve the public health workforce in India,” Dr. Narasimhan said. “At Apollo and Medvarsity, we are always looking for the best education partners that can add value to our doctors and healthcare professionals. This partnership between Apollo Medvarsity and UNSW brings an exceptional, globally recognized master’s program to India. Through this course our students can also apply for jobs with global organizations including the World Health Organization and UNESCO,” said Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.  

In India, there are over 100 million diabetic and pre-diabetic citizens. Diabetes is impacting India as it continues its march towards becoming a silent epidemic. Data indicates half of the uncontrolled Diabetics also develop cardiovascular complications. To address Non Communicable Diseases like Diabetes, Apollo is proud to bring Apollo Sugar, our Centre of Excellence for Diabetes and Endocrine care to our new Navi Mumbai hospital to serve you and your family. With 30 years of Apollo’s healthcare innovation forming the cornerstone of our parentage, Apollo Sugar with its network of 51 diabetes clinics, over 100 endocrinologists and Diabetologists and multidisciplinary care team of 150 including dieticians, diabetes specialty nurses and educators stands committed to offering our patients world-class diabetic care. We aim to provide the highest quality of service and create a healthy difference in the life of those with diabetes, through clinically led, lifestyle backed and technologically enabled model of care. Commenting on the Launch, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Diabetes is sweeping across India and marching towards becoming a silent epidemic. To combat this Non Communicable Disease, as we have launched Mumbai’s first Apollo Hospital, we are happy to announce that this facility houses our exclusive Centre of Excellence for Diabetes & Endocrine care – Apollo Sugar. I am delighted to share that Apollo Sugar’s proven Diabetes & Endocrine care delivers excellent clinical results. There has been a significant 16% decrease in HbA1c in patients enrolled with Apollo Sugar’s flagship annual program – Sugar 360. We are proud to bring this Centre of Excellence to Navi Mumbai and look forward to serve the community with our leading edge programs.” Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gagan Bhalla, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Sugar said, “Apollo Sugar today launches its 5th clinic in the city of Mumbai, and strengthens our ability to serve Mumbaikars with comprehensive, end-to-end diabetes care through its holistic diabetes and lifestyle management programs. We aim to help Mumbaikars live a disease free diabetes lifestyle, and hand-hold Mumbaikars in managing every aspect of their Diabetes. We are committed to improving the diabetes health of individuals and communities by delivering proven and internationally acclaimed standards of care at affordable price points, thus helping improve patients’ health, and preventing complications.”  

Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai is the 66th hospital in the pioneering group’s network. Speaking on the occasion, Shri CH.Vidyasagar Rao, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu said “I am delighted to inaugurate Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, a world class healthcare facility with clinical and technological advancements on par with global standards; it is well poised to serve the people of Maharashtra. I congratulate Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals for transforming the landscape of Indian healthcare.” Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra said “Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai is the most advanced hospital in this region and it will address the medical needs of our people. I do laud Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals for launching a hospital of truly international standards in the region. The people of Maharashtra will be benefitted by this hospital and it will certainly also motivate patients from across India and other countries to come here for advanced medical treatment.” Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals said “Our mission is to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual and since our inception in 1983, we have been honoured with the trust of almost 50 million people who came to us from across 121 countries. Now, Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, a worldclass tertiary care hospital will serve the people of Maharashtra and also patients who come to India looking for high quality medical care at an affordable cost. With over three decades of clinical acumen, established protocols and proven expertise, Apollo Hospitals will set new benchmarks in healthcare delivery and patient experience in Maharashtra.” Dr Narendra Trivedi, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai said, “Navi Mumbai and the surrounding region has been developing at a rapid pace and yet one has had to travel a great distance to access high quality medical care. Now with Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, an international standard of medical facilities will be accessible to all. Moreover, being in proximity to the Mumbai-Pune expressway, the hospital has geared itself to provide advanced emergency care within the critical golden hour. The hospital has a 17 bedded emergency ward, 120 bedded ICU and 24*7 Emergency medical Services.” Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai is equipped with highly advanced diagnostics including AlluraClarity Cath lab – the most advanced Cath lab in India, Digital Mammogram, X-ray stereotactic biopsy, 3 Tesla MRI and more. The hospital will provide comprehensive services in major specialities including, Cardiology, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacements, 24*7 Emergency & Critical Care services, General Medicine, General & Laparoscopic Surgery, Bariatric & weight loss surgery, Nephrology & 24×7 Dialysis, Urology, Neurology, Neuro-Surgery, Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Pulmonology, Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology, Anaesthesiology, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Radiology and Pathology. Soon, Solid Organ Transplant (Live and Cadaver) and Medical Oncology & Surgical Oncology will be established in Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. Each of these departments is led by highly experienced and skilled doctors, educated and trained at the foremost medical institutions of UK, USA and India. The nursing services and the patient-care providers are specially trained to provide compassionate care round-the-clock. Spread over 7,00,000 sqft Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai houses more than 50 specialties, equipped with state-of-the art equipment and offers multi- disciplinary high-end tertiary care. The 500-bedded super specialty hospital is equipped with cutting edge technology, 14 Operating Theatres, 3 Cath Labs, 69 consultation suites, superior 5-bed standard units, spacious single rooms and 4500 sq.ft.of presidential suites.  

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata was witness to an instance of a ‘humane touch’ that transforms lives. The parents of a young student, who had been admitted to the hospital following an accident on October 30, 2016, and was declared brain-dead on November 03, 2016, had decided on multi-organ donation for their only son. This is the third recorded instance of a deceased-donor organ donation in the city this year, and bears testimony to the growing awareness among the public towards this socio-medically important decision. Swarnendu Roy, an 18 year old who was scheduled to appear for his Higher Secondary examinations at the end of the year, had met with a road traffic accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. He was admitted at the hospital, where a team of surgeons undertook a decompression craniotomy to reverse the damage. However, despite the best efforts of the multi-disciplinary team, the young man slipped into a coma, and was declared brain-dead on the morning of November 03, 2016. His family contacted the hospital authorities, who got in touch with the Department of Health, Government of West Bengal, to facilitate this noble decision. The Health Department officials extended prompt support, and on completion of the necessary formalities, Swarnendu’s kidneys, liver and cornea were harvested for transplant. One of the kidneys was given to a recipient at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals itself. A team of doctors were flown in from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi to undertake the procedures in collaboration with the expert surgeons at the hospital. The Kolkata Police, played a key role in the entire process, creating the first ‘Green Corridor’ in the history of the city to ensure that the harvested organs reached the target destination in the shortest possible time. A ‘Green Corridor’ refers to a special route that is created by the police for the expediting organ transfers. The traffic signals along the entire stretch are turned green, clearing traffic congestion, while a police escort car leads the organ-carrying vehicle on its journey.  

  The Liver Transplant team at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, led by Dr Manish C. Varma, Chief Transplant Surgeon performed a critical liver transplant surgery on Master Nitesh who was suffering from Biliary atresia. Biliary atresia is a congenital liver condition where the bile cannot drain from the liver through the bile ducts to the intestines. Bile helps to digest fats in the body and also carries waste products from the liver to the intestines for excretion. This condition occurs in 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 children. This impairment of the bile flow usually happens due to the bile ducts in the liver being absent or blocked or abnormally narrow resulting in the bile being trapped in the liver eventually leading to liver failure. Initially these children present with jaundice at about 2 weeks after birth. If they are not treated they become malnourished and are easy prey to infections and complications of cirrhosis and a majority of them do not survive beyond 2 years. Master Nitesh had developed jaundice a few weeks after his birth. After prolonged treatment when jaundice did not subside, they brought him to another Hospital in Hyderabad where they were advised liver transplant as the only cure for his medical condition. It was at this stage, their family and friends strongly advised them to seek the help of the transplant team at Apollo Hospitals. On presentation at Apollo Hospitals, Nitesh was found to be suffering from severe jaundice and had already developed liver cirrhosis. Further, he was just weighing about 5.5 kgs. Dr Manish Varma said “Nitesh was left with no option but to undergo a liver transplant. These are the patients who pose the biggest challenge for liver transplantation and not many centres in our country are equipped to carry out liver transplant on children smaller than 10 kgs in weight, he points out”. “The baby needed a small part of healthy liver for transplantation. The transplant was carried out on 13th October, 2016, using a small part of his father’s liver. The donor (father) was discharged on 6th day after surgery and the baby was discharged after 2 weeks of transplant. There will not be any long term limitations to his growth, learning and life expectancy” says Dr Manish Varma. The liver transplantation was done by a team of Specialists led by Dr. Manish Varma and included Dr Anand Khakhar, Dr Anand Ramamurthy, Dr L Sasidhar Reddy, Dr Kirubakaran, Dr Manjunath Balasubramaniam, Dr Dinesh Babu and Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan, Pediatric Gastroenterologist. Liver Transplantation in general and Paediatric Liver Transplantation in specific requires multi-disciplinary approach, advanced infrastructure and well qualified staff who are specialised in dealing with critical paediatric patients. Apart from meticulous surgery, the biggest challenge is the intensive care in the post-operative period. The nutritionists and physiotherapists have a very crucial role to play for a successful outcome. The margin of error in paediatric liver transplant patients is extremely narrow and the medical management has to be coordinated like clockwork. The Liver Transplant programme at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, has a success rate of over 95%, which is not only the best in India, but also one of the best in the world. With superlative success rates, which speaks of a proficient team and excellent infrastructure, the Liver Transplant Program at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, is all equipped to undertake complex endeavours.  

Apollo Hospitals, Nashik performed its first Renal Transplant Surgery at Nashik. A team of highly qualified surgeons, nephrologists and support staff performed the surgery on 28th September, 2016. Patient, Dr. Rohini Desle, who was on dialysis for a long time was kept under constant monitoring in the ‘Transplant Unit’ and thereafter shifted to ward and was discharged as she recovered well in a short span of time. She does not require dialysis any longer and can lead a normal life. The organ for the transplant was retrieved from a brain dead patient at Pune and transported to Nashik under controlled environment after being assigned by Zonal transplant coordination committee (ZTCC). To reduce the time of ischemia, traffic police, Nashik created a green corridor, so that the transportation time could be reduced and the organ could reach the patient at the earliest, which is crucial in any successful transplant. The team consisted of transplant surgeons Dr. Pravin Goverdhane, Dr. Kishore Wani, Dr. Abhay Singh Walia and Dr. Nandan Vileker, Nephrologist Dr. Mohan Patel and Dr. Prakash Ugale, Transplant coordinator Mr. Bhushan Patil and other nursing and paramedical staffs under the supervision of Medical Superintendent, Dr. Dilip Patil. Maj Gen (Dr) Vijay Saraswat, Chief Operating Officer, informed that Apollo hospitals have been the pioneer in driving transplant program in the private sector and have performed over 16,000 renal transplants and over 2600 Liver transplants across the country. Apollo hospital, Nashik, was granted permission for Renal Transplant in June 2016.  

A rare complication of spine surgery that was managed by laparoscopic surgery for the first time in the world has won accodales for city surgeons Dr.Nairuthya S, Chief Surgical Gastroenterologist and Dr. Boppiah K S, Consultant Neurosurgeon. The doctors treated a rare complication of spine surgery called as Antepulsion of Intervertebral Cage through laparoscopic surgery. They removed the anterior displaced cage which would have been dangerous if left behind. This procedure has been done for the first time in the world. Dr. Nairuthya has been invited by the American college of surgeons annual congress to do a video presentation on this surgery.