Apollo Hospitals, Chennai launched the Apollo Institute of Robotic Surgery, bringing in the latest State of the Art “” da Vinci Si Robotic system””, the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu, in association with Vattikutti Foundation, Michigan, USA. This centre of excellence was inaugurated today by renowned award winning urologist, Dr. Mani Menon, Director of Vattikuti Institute of Urology, Henry Ford Hospital, USA. This multi-speciality, multi-modality Institute will offer Robot Assisted Surgeries of world-class standards at costs which would be a fraction of that compared to hospitals across advanced nations for similar services. This new facility will focus on the most advanced form of minimally-invasive robotic surgery that leads to faster recovery, reduces hospital stay, ensures precision and accuracy. The Robotic Surgery is already being done for indications in Urology, Gynaecology, Bariatric Surgery and cardiac surgery for valve replacements and single-double vessel coronary artery bypass grafting. From open surgery to laparoscopy, surgical technique has moved onto the next level of evolution – robotics. The greatest benefit of this cutting edge technique of Controlled Robotics is precision and accuracy that comes from a 3D High Definition Vision, superior magnification and an immersive view of the surgical field through tiny incisions of 1cm to 2 cm. The Endo Wrist Instruments with seven degrees of freedom offer a range of motion far greater than the human hand with reduction of hand tremor making the surgery far more precise with minimal trauma. and eventually allowing for quicker healing. The average blood loss in an open surgery is 400 to 500 ml, whereas in a robotic surgery, it is just 30 to 40 ml. 30% of patients who undergo prostatectomy through an open surgical technique require blood transfusion which is reduced to just 2-3% in patients undergoing the same procedure with Robotic Surgery. This technique, in addition to increased patient comfort and safety allows for reduced hospital stay and in turn reduced chances of infection. In the last decade, Robotic Surgery has fast gained ground as a preferred surgery mode for select indications. Almost 80% of prostate cancer cases in the USA in the last decade have been done by robotics. Present on the occasion Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “”Our collaboration with Vattikuti Foundation, USA is a step towards providing more and more patients in India the benefit of robotic surgery. Considering the numerous benefits that Robotic Surgery offers, we expect a sizeable patient flow benefitting from this facility from the very beginning. This alliance is integral for us as we partner with a healthcare institution that shares our values of maintaining international standards in healthcare delivery.”” The introduction of the Robotic Surgery Program is a significant value offering to all the patients globally and enhances Apollo’s position as a preferred Global healthcare provider. For more details on Robotic Surgery, Please visit

Apollo Hospitals has set up a full-fledged critical care unit with ICU facility at Sabarimalai for the healthcare needs of devotees going to Lord Iyappa temple. The seven-bedded centre at Pamba was established based on the request made by Akhila Bharatha Iyappa Seva Sangam. Already there is an Apollo Clinic cum information centre functioning at Pamba for Iyappa devotees. Since there was a request for starting full-fledged unit, the Apollo Hospitals Group chairman Dr.Prathap C. Reddy decided to set up a state-of-the art critical care unit there so that a devotee in emergency would get timely medical attention. Dr.Rohini Sridhar, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Medical Services, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Madurai, has said that the seven-bedded critical care centre at Pamba in Sabarimala is a 2,500 square feet facility which will be fully operational from November, 16, 2011. Apollo clinic which was started in the year 2000 at Pamba had now grown to a 24-hour unit with ICU facility and it had provided timely care to nearly two lakh patients during the past 10 years. This unit will be connected with other major centres through telemedicine facility in order to get expert opinion for emergency cases. Besides free consultation and ICU care, the Sabarimala devotees are also given medicines free of cost as a part of the Apollo Group’s corporate social responsibility. Explaining about the critical care unit at Pamba in a simple function held here, the hospital’s Senior General Manager T.N. Sekar had informed that lakhs of people travel to Sabarimala during the pilgrim season every year and some of them face health problems due to unaccustomed exertion. Blisters on the feet and diarrhoea due to unsafe food are the common minor complaints while some devotees get serious ailments.

FORTUNE India ranks India’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, for the first time, in its November, 2011 issue. Managing Director, Mrs. Preetha Reddy has been ranked the 13th most powerful woman in Business in India ! Dibyendra Nath Mukerjea, editor of FORTUNE India, said, “”Indian women span generations and today we find them in every field. Acquisitions, garnering profits, successful new ventures, pioneering concepts, snagging mega deals…all important factors, no doubt, when defining power. We looked at the changes they brought in, and the way they transformed businesses. In the process, we made some surprising discoveries. But then, surprise was what we expected when we put together Fortune India’s first ranking of the most powerful women in India Inc.”” Pavan Varshnei, President of FORTUNE India, said, “”FORTUNE India’s Most Powerful Women in Business list is the most comprehensive ranking of influential women in Indian business.”” FORTUNE India is the only Indian magazine to win two merit awards from the Society of Publication Designers, New York, and besides that, a bronze award for infographics at the IFRA Annual Competition, earlier this year.

Apollo Hospitals has come forward to propagate the fact, once considered a last resort for patients with few other treatment options; surgery is now a relatively safe and common therapeutic strategy for seizure control in epilepsy patients. Epilepsy patients have become seizure free after targeted surgery to remove the epileptic focus with a high degree of success and excellent outcome. They attribute their improvement to better technology and the expert evaluation and operative and postoperative care at Apollo Speciality Hospital Chennai. Epilepsy occurs in 1 among 150 people worldwide out of which 70% respond to drug treatment (3-5 years) where as the remaining 30% require evaluation in a difficult to treat epilepsy clinic by an epileptologist, as about half of them are likely to benefit from epilepsy surgery. Apollo Hospitals Chennai performed its first epilepsy surgery on a Sudanese boy on 15th August 1998. Since then more than 100 surgeries have been completed with a high success rate of more than 70-100% seizure freedom in the operated patients. According to Dr.Prithika Chary, Senior Consultant Neurologist & Neuro Surgeon, Apollo Institute of Neurosciences, “Several options are open to epileptic patients, including proper and detailed evaluation and classification of their seizures, appropriate rational combinations of different antiepileptic drugs, implantation of a device called vagal nerve stimulator or resective surgery to remove the epileptic focus. Identification of such patients should be done as early as possible to give good results. Ideally, any patient whose seizures exceed two per month, in spite of taking two or more antiepileptic drugs, or who has limiting side effects due to medication is a suitable candidate to be examined in a “Difficult to treat epilepsy clinic”. Dr.Chendilnathan, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Apollo Institute of Neurosciences, elaborates, “Surgery as an option of treatment for epilepsy is still an underused option, Apollo has made a huge difference in the lives of a 54 year old from Goa, and a 38 year old from Chennai through surgery and in the life of a 19 year old from Andhra Pradesh with expert drug treatment, among others. With the help of an operating wand (an advanced technology) that adds to the accuracy and safety of the surgery and also the operating microscope, these benefits may open the door for more epilepsy patients to see surgery as a viable option”. The launch of a “Difficult to treat epilepsy clinic” will enable early referral and treatment of patients with persistent seizures, which has potential to irreversibly damage the brain, and offer hope to this select group of patients enabling them to live better.

“Organ donation is the greatest form of human service; it is the noblest of deeds whereby the donor breathes life into another by donating healthy organs after death”. Being a pioneer in organ transplants Apollo Hospitals felt the urgent need to spread the above message. 53 year old Thilagavathy, an accident victim was brought to Apollo Hospitals Chennai for treatment on 18th October and was declared brain dead. With her family’s consent a team of highly skilled surgeon at Apollo Hospitals harvested and transplanted her organs in 4 other individuals. Out of them, a 63 year old woman who had heart transplant, is the oldest woman transplant recipient in India. Dr.Paul Ramesh, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals said, “Transplant program at Apollo has evolved from a sustained commitment to world class surgical expertise. It embraces the latest and the best technologies available in the international healthcare market, and also has highly trained professionals who offer supreme quality of treatment”.He also added that, “Mrs.Malathi Marathe came to Chennai 4 months ago, was treated for lung infection, worsening of heart failure and renal impairment. Until she received a compatible heart she was stabilized on heart failure medicines”. Dr.Paul Ramesh explained, “Performing a transplant on senior citizens is a challenge because, older patients are mostly diabetic and are fraught with post-operative problems especially infection. The reserve in older patients is also less; they also tend to be much sicker, but Malathi made an impressive recovery and is due back to her native (Mumbai) in few days”.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi has successfully completed 200 Liver Transplant cases of Pakistani patients. With success rate of over 90%, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals created a milestone in the history of medicine by becoming the first hospital in the country to reach the 200 mark for patients from a single foreign country. A Press Conference was organised by Apollo Delhi which was attended by Prof Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals, Dr Subash Gupta, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and the families of the patients from Pakistan. Addressing the press meet, Prof Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals Delhi said, “We are delighted that we have been able to touch so many patients from across the border”. From the time we performed successful liver transplant in India in 1998, the Apollo Transplant Program has performed 776 liver transplants in children and adults. Our experience with so many Pakistani patients and their families has taught us so much about Pakistani culture and the similarities between our societies is so striking. During the conference, Prof Sibal and Prof. Gupta shared their experience of looking after the 200th Pakistani patient, Shehary, a 10 year old boy from Karachi in Pakistan who underwent a Liver Transplant surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals on 6th October 2011. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Subash Gupta, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals Delhi said, “It is a proud moment for us to have completed two hundred cases, we feel a sense of accomplishment by the faith and courage shown by our patients, who have travelled such long distances for the treatment.” Shehary, the 200th patient from Pakistan who underwent Successful Liver Transplant surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals is a 10 year old boy from Karachi in Pakistan was brought to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in a critical condition. In the previous two months, Shehary was admitted to hospital due to increase in jaundice and vomiting of blood but there was no improvement in his condition. He was suffering from chronic liver disease for the past three years and despite maximal medical management his condition was not improving. His medical condition deteriorated to such an extent that he became drowsy and unresponsive to speech. At Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, a multidisciplinary team of doctors led by, Prof Anupam Sibal, Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals evaluated him and finally a successful Liver Tranplant was carried out by Prof Subash Gupta, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon, wherein the part of the liver was donated by Shehary’s mother. Post transplant his jaundice has improved, he is no more unresponsive and has made a remarkable recovery and is ready to fly home.

Dr. M.K. Mani, pioneer in nephrology in the country and Chief Nephrologist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, has been honoured with the 40th Dhanvantari Award. Dhanvantari Medical Foundation president and eminent cardiologist Dr.B.K. Goyal said that Dr. Mani pioneered innovative techniques and a new regimen in the management of kidney disorders. Dr. Mani is the recipient of many awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Rabindranath Tagore Award and has more than 125 publications to his credit. He has been awarded the honorary Doctorate of Science by several universities. Dr. Mani became well-known after he gave a fresh lease of life to Jayaprakash Narayan, who was suffering from a kidney ailment and had a cardiac arrest at the Jaslok Hospital here, Dr. Goyal said. The prestigious award, which recognises contribution in medical science, is awarded annually since 1972. The recipients include Denton A Cooley of Houston and pioneer heart transplant surgeon Christiaan Neethling Barnard of South Africa.

Alexandria-Frost & Sullivan 2011 India Excellence in Healthcare Awards seek to recognize companies and individuals that have pushed the boundaries of excellence, rising above the competition and demonstrating outstanding performance across South Asia. Apollo Pharmacy has been awarded the Best Healthcare Retail Company of the Year 2011 under the Healthcare Delivery Awards category.

Apollo Hospitals is the first in India to launch Regenerative Cell-Enriched Cosmetic Treatments at Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad and Apollo Cosmetic Clinics. Apollo Hospitals and Cytori Therapeutics, a leader in regenerative medicine technologies, announced an alliance to introduce Cytori’s Celution® System for personalized cell therapy at Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad and Apollo Centers of Cosmetic Surgery. The integration of Cytori’s Celution-based personalized cell therapy into Apollo Hospital’s “”Cosmetic Centers of Excellence”” will for the first time make available a patient’s own adipose (Fat) derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) as an all-natural, soft-tissue filler across a variety of cosmetic procedures in India. As part of this alliance, Cytori and Apollo have collaborated in Hyderabad and Delhi with plans for additional locations throughout India this year. The Centers of Cosmetic Surgery at Apollo Hospitals is an acknowledged centers of excellence. Cosmetic enhancement treatment, beyond being a way of aesthetic improvement, involves advanced and intricate procedures. These Centers also offers medical tourists from all over the world superior quality cosmetic treatment at costs that are highly affordable, with results comparable to those at the best centers across the globe. Speaking about the alliance, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “”At Apollo Hospitals, we pride ourselves on introducing the latest technological advancements to help improve health care outcomes. The alliance with Cytori will revolutionize the delivery of personalized cell therapy in India. The Cytori Celution® System represents best-in-class regenerative medicine technology that enables surgeons’ access to the power of the patient’s own regenerative cells as real-time therapy across a variety of ischemic diseases.”” Commenting on this relationship Christopher J. Calhoun, CEO of Cytori, said, “”We are honored to work closely with Apollo Hospitals to make personalized cell therapy available. Apollo Hospitals represent best-in-class institutions in India and appropriate venues to enable surgeons to unlock the natural healing mechanisms of the human body to treat critical unmet medical conditions. This alliance should help ensure India becomes a leading hub in regenerative medicine worldwide.”” Call 60601066 or write to touchinglives@apollohospitals.com for appointments and queries.

Apollo Speciality Cancer Hospitals, Chennai one among India’s foremost Cancer Hospitals dedicated a brand-new contemporary and exclusive Chemotherapy Ward to Cancer patients on the occasion of Rose Day. Popular South-Indian Film Star Karthi inaugurated this new Chemotherapy Daycare Ward and celebrated Rose Day with the patients. The state-of the art Chemotherapy Daycare ward encompasses a dedicated Procedure Room, 19-Daycare beds, a Recovery bay, a Pharmacy stocked exclusively with Chemotherapy drugs, an Endoscopy unit and a Dialysis bay all in proximity to provide enhanced comfort to patients. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “”The contemporary Chemotherapy Daycare ward at Apollo Speciality Hospitals Chennai has been designed to provide utmost convenience to patients. It will help them undergo Chemotherapy on an out-patient basis and its environment encourages the patient to be relaxed, listen to pleasant music, watch television and then return home within a few hours. In doing so, the typical stress associated with administration of Chemotherapy and hospitalization is completely avoided””. Rose Day is a celebration of life for cancer patients, perpetrated in the name of Melinda Rose, a Canadian born 14 year old, who, though herself afflicted with cancer spent her time spreading cheer and happiness all around her. The hugely popular South Indian Film star Karthi, renowned for his prowess as an actor and commitment to community service gave roses to all the cancer patients at the hospital and spread cheer on the occasion of Rose Day. Speaking to the media, Karthi said, “”By giving the patients a rose, I do want to tell them that they are the real heroes and that we all are with them in their battle with cancer.”” Rose Day celebrations included a special event planned for the children at the hospital. The entertainment sessions included story telling sessions and some games.

Mohammad Ali, native of Mauritius, a patient of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a patient of malignant (cancerous) bone tumor that affects children, underwent a Total Femur Replacement surgery performed by Prof. Dr.Mayilvahanan Natarajan and team, Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai, which has enabled him to walk again ! At tender age of 13, Mohammad Ali never thought that he would not be able to play with his folks due to excruciating pain in his right leg. His worried parents saw the child suffering for a year before he was brought to Prof. Dr. Mayilvahanan Natarajan, renowned orthopedic surgeon, and a specialist of orthopedic oncology. Prof. Natarajan found out that the boy is a patient of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a malignant (cancerous) bone tumor that affects children. Ewing Sarcoma is a rare disease in which cancerous cells develop in the long bones of the arms, legs and the pelvis. It may also develop in the skull or the flat bones of the trunk and occur during childhood or puberty, when bones are growing rapidly. “Master Mohammad was in terrible pain along with the swelling at the site of the tumor, when came to me. A number of tests were undertaken to determine the occurrence of the tumor. A Biopsy was done to confirm the diagnosis. He was immediately put on chemotherapy with 6 cycles under the guidance of a Medical Oncologist,” said Prof. Natarajan. “After the successful cycles of chemotherapy treatment, Prof Mayilvahanan Natarajan decided to perform Limb salvage surgery on Mast Mohammad Ali to prevent amputation. He was operated on 17th August 2011 at Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai for the total femur replacement in which a part of his leg bone was excised and replaced with an artificial prosthesis made up of cobalt chrome alloy, which takes on the function of the bone excised. Throughout the 6 hours surgery, the patient was in complete anesthesia.” Prof. Natarajan further explained the procedure. Sharing his plight, Master Mohammad said “My inability to walk and play was making me very depressed and the pain was very severe to bear. I was very happy when the doctor told me that my leg and life can be saved.” “Post surgery Mohammad was kept under careful observation in ICU where he recovered from his pain and swelling in few days. His follow up treatment which is as much important as the surgery follows 3 cycles of Chemotherapy and a complete physiotherapy to make sure he starts walking without any support.” said Prof. Natarajan. Total femoral removals for extensive tumors are less common but clearly represent a major problem, which till some time back required hip disarticulations. In recent years, removal and replacement using modular metallic devices have allowed the patients to be restored reasonably. The uniqueness of this replacement surgery is that the patient is given a practically new limb which is tumor free and the patient can achieve full independence in less time with an appropriate rehabilitation program. Prof. Mayilvahanan Natarajan is an Orthopedic Surgeon, recognized for his pioneering work in Orthopedic Oncology. He introduced the concept of Limb Salvage Surgery by Custom Mega Prosthesis as early as 1988. He established Orthopedic Oncology as a Sub-Specialty in Orthopedic Surgery in India. His personal series of 1750 cases of Custom Mega Prosthesis is the largest number by a single surgeon in the whole world. He has designed and invented 8 types of Custom Mega Prosthesis for different anatomical sites in the body.

Apollo Founder Prathap C Reddy laid the foundation of healthcare for profit in the country. Building on the idea, today there are hundreds of world-class hospitals in India. But BV Mahalakshmi & Sudhir Chowdhary, Financial Express, discover that the 79-year-old’s zeal is nowhere diminished, and he has greater plans in the pipeline. After the first human heart transplant operation in December 1967, South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard became an international superstar overnight and was celebrated around the world for his daring accomplishment. Dr Prathap Chandra Reddy, the 79-year-old executive-chairman of the Rs.2,605-crore Apollo Hospitals Enterprises and architect of modern healthcare in India, has a bit of Barnard in him. Like the South African medical genius who got his education in the US and subsequently returned to the rainbow country, Reddy also left a flourishing practice in the US and opted to return to his roots when in 1979 he lost a patient who could not make it to Texas for an open heart surgery.””Even before this, I was restless on account of my father’s words: ‘Of what use is your expertise if your country does not benefit from it’,” he recollects……………. To read the full article, please click here.