Apollo Hospitals Group has joined the UAE’s Waterfalls Initiative for Continuous Education from UAE. This unique initiative aims to train health and medical professionals around the world and empower them through building and strengthening their capabilities. The Apollo Hospitals Group will support the Waterfall Initiative’s educational program that includes specialized lectures, seminars and workshops on vital topics in medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, public health, nursing, dentistry, and hospital management. 52 senior doctors from various reputed hospitals in India are joining the Waterfalls Initiative. FICCI and the Apollo Hospitals Group are the Indian partners for this initiative that aims to reach and empower 1 million health professionals worldwide. Speaking at the Virtual Launch, Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “We are honoured to join this global initiative that aims to deliver continuous education and support front-liners across all medical and humanitarian fields. We also thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE for his timely decision in launching the initiative, which will benefit one million health professionals We are sure that Apollo Hospitals with its experienced medical doctors and healthcare workers will be able to add tremendous value to the specialized webinars, lectures and workshops delivered across the world through an internet based digital e-learning platform. Apollo Hospitals was one of the pioneers to use web broadcasts to deliver CME programs with eminent medical experts from around the world coming together to discuss latest developments in various specialties. Today, advances in e-learning technology enable innovative, interactive delivery of the latest medical developments, that can be conveniently accessed across platforms and geographies. We are happy that Apollo Hospitals will be supporting this unique effort to upskill and create value for healthcare professionals, who form a nation’s assets.” “The project is the largest of its kind and will offer virtual medical training across 14 medical sectors. Within the Waterfall platform, those affiliated with the initiative will obtain a training certificate and approved hours from the international scientific and academic bodies participating in the initiative, and they can benefit from it in the scope of their work or in their research, or in completing their scientific studies through continuous distance education without having to leave their jobs or leaving their workplace or bearing any financial burdens, through the initiative link.” H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Banna, UAE Ambassador to India Waterfalls Continuous Education is an initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The initiative is being conducted under the supervision of His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and the Department of Behavioral Rewards at the Ministry of Possibilities in collaboration with INDEX Holding. Those registered with Waterfalls Registration will receive a training certificate and credit hours accredited by the scientific and academic entities participating in the initiative. The Waterfalls Initiative for Continuous Education from UAE to the World will have over 230 speakers and over 77000 participants. The virtual Launch Event for India’s Participation in the Waterfalls Initiative for Continuous Education from UAE to the World was hosted by Eng. Anas Al Madani, Vice Chairman and Group CEO – INDEX Holding and had Mr. Uday Shankar, President, FICCI; Ms. Sangita Reddy, Immediate Past President, FICCI, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited; H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Banna, The UAE Ambassador to India; Dr. Alok Roy, Chairperson, FICCI Health Services Committee & Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals speaking on the occasion. Also present were H.E. Pavan Kapoor, Ambassador of India to UAE; Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai; Colonel Abdulrahman Ali Al Mansouri, Director of the Executive, Office in the Department of Behavioural Rewards at the Ministry of Possibilities; and, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of Waterfalls Initiative for Continuous Education from UAE to the World, Chairman of INDEX Holding. The Waterfalls Initiative for Continuous Education from UAE to the World is a global project by the Government of UAE’s Ministry of Possibilities and INDEX Holding and in cooperation with Aqdar World Summit to support front-liners across all medical and humanitarian fields through live and on-demand instruction. The details of the initiative, information on webinars and speakers are available on https://waterfalls.ae/. The initiative will be supported by Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director – Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), Professor of Radiation Oncology, Dr Sandeep Guleria – Senior Consultant, Kidney Transplantation, Dr Sai Satish – Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Dr T Sunder – Senior Consultant Heart and Transplant Surgery, Dr Subash Wangnoo – Senior Consultant Endocrinology, Dr Arvind Garg – Head, Department of Paediatrics from the Apollo Hospitals Group.

CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Apollo Hospitals have tied up for joint manufacturing and commercialization of an innovative dry swab test, Direct Amplification rapid RT-PCR (DArRT-PCR) – for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The test has been developed by CSIR-CCMB and the collaboration with Apollo Hospitals will focus on scaling up manufacturing and commercialization of the tests jointly. The rapid, safe and cost-effective DArRT-PCR tests will be available nationally through the Apollo Hospitals network. The DArRT-PCR test allows for rapid, safer and more cost-effective SARS-COV-2 testing. The sample collection centres can send dry nasal or oropharyngeal swabs to testing centres with no need for the imported and expensive Viral Transport Medium. The biological sample can be directly isolated from the patient swabs, and testing using a one-step protocol. The current gold-standard method, on the contrary, requires many expensive reagents and steps that add to the expertise, money and time required for the tests. The DArRT-PCR test reduces the time and human effort by 40-50% in the current setting of testing. Dr Rakesh Mishra, Director, CSIR-CCMB applauded this collaboration and said, “As people are getting back to their normal lives and businesses, it is important for us to ramp up our testing for the coronavirus. The virus will be here for some time and those who test more frequently will be able to contain the impact of COVID-19 better. Cheaper, rapid and easy to use tests as these are the need of the hour. With Apollo and its vast network of hospitals and health services, we are positive about impacting many lives towards better health.” Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “We are glad to collaborate with CSIR-CCMB in this path-breaking initiative of a more rapid, easy to use and accurate testing option and work to make it available nationwide. The Apollo Hospitals Group has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge medical technology and a pioneer in implementing the latest advances for the benefit of patients. Co-creating and commercialising an Indian solution in line with our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat is an important landmark for Apollo Hospitals. As India continues to unlock, easy availability of cost-effective, reliable testing for COVID-19 is the key to getting back to normal. Widespread testing will enable quick identification, immediate isolation and early treatment to prevent spread. With nearly half of all COVID-19 infections transmitted by people who are asymptomatic, these easy and quick tests will go a long way in facilitating the identification of infected individuals who may be asymptomatic or presymptomatic. These tests will give a boost to the efforts to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 and will play a major role in controlling the pandemic.”

Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram has successfully performed three multi-disciplinary complicated procedures on a 35-year-old patient, who had an Ischemic stroke. Mr. Ramkumar, from Chennai was brought to Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram with a sudden inability to use his left arm and leg and with symptoms of facial paralysis. He was brought into the hospital in a drowsy condition and was only able to respond to doctor’s queries feebly. He had a vision loss in his left eye and also his eye was deviated to the right side. Read more about how doctors at Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram treated Ischemic stroke patient.

The team of Cardiologists at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad led by Dr. A. Sreenivas Kumar, Director, Cardiology & Clinical Research has performed a critical cardiac procedure – Trans Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) on an 83-year-old COVID survivor male patient from West Godavari District. The patient was suffering from Hypertension, Mild Coronary Artery Disease, COPD, severe Degenerative Aortic Valve Disease, severe Aortic Stenosis and Mild Aortic Regurgitation. Despite recovering from COVID he developed lung fibrosis, leading to worsening of breathlessness, palpitations and extreme fatigue. He was rushed to the Hospital considering his deteriorating condition due to pre-existing severe Aortic valve disease coupled with the Post-COVID difficulties. Patient was evaluated with HR CT Chest for COVID manifestations, stabilised and once COVID PCR became negative he was evaluated by CT Angio with TAVR Protocol. A detailed clinical and Echocardiogram evaluation that followed strongly indicated TAVR as the treatment option. His Coronary Angiogram revealed mild CAD which can be managed medically. After explaining the pros and cons regarding TAVR, patient was admitted on 25th November and TAVR procedure was done successfully. The post procedure hemodynamic revealed no gradient across Aortic valve and echo done showed good valve position with no AR. His Femoral puncture site was closed with Perclose – proglide systems, patient was ambulatory by night and was discharged the next day morning. This is the first patient in the twin Telugu states to undergo this procedure post COVID recovery, even in the Country no data was available on this being performed earlier. This performing of a TAVR procedure on an octogenarian COVID recovered patient is a milestone. It sends a strong message to patients with pre-existing cardiac disease and recovered from COVID, that there is no need to postpone seeking medical care for critical ailments. The expertise and facilities available at Apollo Hospitals, can help patients recover from serious ailments and lead a normal and active life, says Dr. A. Sreenivas Kumar. COVID survivors are developing myriad health problems, it could be simple ailments like fatigue, body aches, joint pains, lack of concentration to more severe and long-term health complications with one or other body organs being compromised. The problems could be lung fibrosis, severe lung scarring with lung losing its elasticity and ability to pump oxygen needing lung transplantation, Ischemic Heart Disease, strokes due to clot in the brain, kidney complications and more, as studies unravel newer insights about the disease. Most such patients were devoid of any of these health issues prior to COVID and some of them have already developed irreversible conditions, impacting them for lifetime. This phenomenon is across the age and gender groups and this patient too became a victim of Post- COVID health complications.

Apollo Hospitals, Indore has achieved a milestone by becoming the first daycare centre in the country for both knee and hip replacement, that allows the patient to be discharged on the same day. The daycare hip replacement surgery, which is the first in Central India and the second in the country, was successfully performed on a 30-year-old female who was suffering from severe pain in both hip joints for past three years. After the surgery, which involved replacement of the damaged left hip joint with prosthetic components, the patient was discharged from the hospital on the same evening in less than 12 hours after admission. This less than 12-hour hospital stay is a great advantage over the conventional joint replacement surgery that requires patients to stay in the hospital for up to a week to ten days for post-operative care and reduces the cost and risk of hospital-acquired infection. Dr K. Hari Prasad, President, Apollo Group Hospitals, said, “Apollo Hospitals has always been at the forefront when it comes to bringing in cutting-edge medical technology that helps provide the best of services to our patients. With improved surgical techniques such as minimally invasive or robotic surgery and better pain management methods, there is less blood and muscle loss with recovery which is faster and easier, thus making outpatient surgery possible on some elective procedures such as knee and hip replacement. Studies indicate that outpatient total joint replacement is expected to increase 457% for knee replacements and 633% for hip replacements over the next decade. By 2027, over 50% of the joint replacement surgeries will be in an outpatient setting with same day discharge. Proper patient selection and education, multimodal protocols are all key for successful day-case joint replacement. Same-day discharge for joint replacement patients can also help reduce healthcare costs. We are proud that Apollo Hospitals, Indore has led from the front in becoming the first hospital in India to offer both day care knee and hip replacement.” The patient, a 30-year-old lady from Rajasthan, was referred to Apollo Hospitals, Indore with severe pain in both the hip joints since last three years. Her left leg had got shortened by about 3 cm and the pain had increased to a level that she could only walk with a significant limp. After no relief from treatment at various places, she came to Apollo Hospitals, Indore for consultation with Dr Sunil Rajan on 15th September 2020. Dr Sunil Rajan, Orthopedic & Hip, Joint Replacement Surgeon, Apollo Institute of Orthopaedics, Apollo Hospitals, Indore said, “The patient was worked up for her ailment and was diagnosed to have Avascular Necrosis of Ball of both Thigh Bones. She was advised surgery with total replacement of her hip joints. It was decided to replace the left one first as it was more damaged. Due to her fear of getting admitted and operated because of the COVID pandemic, she was offered the option of “Day Care Total Hip Replacement” that would ensure same day discharge and she would not be required to stay in the hospital overnight.” Elaborating on the procedure, Dr Sunil Rajan said, “For daycare surgery, complete preoperative preparation is critical for success. A team of a cardiologist and an anesthesiologist did a complete work up of the patient for fitness for anesthesia and surgery prior to admission for surgery. After their clearance, the surgery was planned for 19th November 2020. One day before the surgery, two of the team members went to the patient’s house to assess the facilities with special attention to height of the bed, availability of western closet and grab bar in the bathroom along with checking for any hindrance to movement with walker amongst other aspects to make the home ready for her recovery. The patient’s room and attached washroom was disinfected one day prior to the surgery and closed till she returned from the surgery. The patient and her family or attendants were trained about strict hand hygiene that they would need to follow after surgery. The family was taught about cleaning to be done before surgery at home.” Describing the surgery, Dr Sunil Rajan said, “The patient was admitted in the morning at 6.30 am and taken to the operation theatre at 8.00 am. Dr Jayesh Jajodia, the anesthesiologist, decided to use general anesthesia with minimal sedation to facilitate the early post-operative mobilization and feeding. Special precautions and medications including adequate painkillers were administered in view of the day care surgery and there was no use of tubes or drains. The surgery was successfully completed in less than an hour and the patient was shifted to recovery. She was able to take liquids two hours after the surgery and was allowed soft food in the afternoon once her bowel motility returned. The patient was mobilized in the recovery itself with the help of walker. She was discharged from the hospital the same evening at 5.45 PM – in less than 12 hours. One staff nurse and a housekeeping staff was provided to the patient at home for next 48 hours to take good care of her in the post-operative period. Physiotherapy was done as per the routine protocol by physiotherapist visiting the patient at home along with training in performing her activities of daily living.” The patients who are healthy make good candidates for same-day surgery. These include patients younger than 70-80 years without preoperative bleeding disorders, cirrhosis, clinically important cardiac disease or end-stage renal disease. Day care hip and knee replacement has multiple advantages that includes significantly lower cost, reduced infection rate, early mobilisation and recovery, and no need of hospitalization. There is greater patient satisfaction as the day care procedure puts the patient on the fast track to recovery, relieving pain, restoring independence and returning the patient to a normal lifestyle.

Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, has launched first-of-its-kind knee replacement program, offering specialized partial and total knee replacement care with the use of advanced robotic technology, The Navio Surgical System. The Robotic system has an advanced computed program which relays precise information about the knee with 3D mapping. The use of next generation robotics with smaller incision will result in less pain and lesser blood loss. Precision in bone cutting and better position of implant with alignment gives a near normal knee motion for both total and partial knee replacement. The program which comes as a package designed for the new normal due to the COVID pandemic, which comprises of home diagnostic tests / assessments, Apollo 24*7 app consultations, and post-surgical home care made available for the patients. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Osteoarthritis is a rising health concern in India, with a prevalence rate between 22 – 39%. To overcome pain and limitations in mobility of such patients, Joint Replacement is the solution. The outcome of surgeries can be improved by leveraging technology. Today, robotic technology has come a long way, helping perform some of the most complicated surgeries with precision, and Apollo Hospitals has always been at the forefront of using technology in healthcare”. Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Our vision has always been to bring the most advanced medical technology to India to benefit our patients. We are continuing on this path with the launch of the knee replacement program, assisted by robotic technology. At Apollo Hospitals, the patient is at the center of all our efforts in providing accessible and affordable world-class treatment, and the introduction of the NAVIO surgical system is in furtherance of this objective”. Dr. Sanjay Pai, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Apollo Specialty Hospitals at Jayanagar, Bangalore commented, “Today, we need to accept the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay, hence we have developed the robotic assisted total and partial knee replacement programme. The NAVIO surgical system is highly reliable and used in over 500 centers worldwide. One of the major advantages of using robotic technology for total or partial knee replacement surgery is that smaller incisions imply lesser pain and also quick recovery which is definitely the need of the hour in Ortho care. The idea here is to ensure that the patients recover quickly and return to normalcy. Recovery is rapid, with lesser hospitalization, faster mobilization and rehabilitation. Our team of trained nursing professionals will ensure complete care and closed monitoring in the comfort of the patient’s home.” Mr. Davison P K, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Hospitals Karnataka region commented, “The comprehensive knee replacement program we have designed, will now be accessible to patients, especially at times where most of them hesitate to come to the hospital, given the fear of COVID-19. At Apollo, while ensuring absolute safety measures for our patients, we also want to provide care and comfort.”

Apollo Hospitals Group has partnered with Tata Medical and Diagnostics (Tata MD) to launch ‘TataMD CHECK’, the world’s first CRISPR Cas-9 based diagnostic test, to help increase testing for COVID-19 across the country. Apollo Hospitals, along with its subsidiary, Apollo Diagnostics will offer the TataMD CHECK testing in the National Capital Region from the first week of December 2020 and shortly thereafter, it will be rolled out across all major centres, namely Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune, followed by a second phase at o ther cities. TataMD CHECK, powered by FELUDA, is the world’s first Covid19 diagnostic test based on the DNA genome editing tool CRISPR Cas-9. The FELUDA diagnostic technology platform has been developed by Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (CSIR- IGIB). TataMD CHECK has been approved by Indian Council of Medical Research and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). It is a viral detection test with high accuracy and a quick result turnaround time. Apollo Hospitals Group is the first healthcare institution in the country to adopt the test. This significant tie-up with Apollo Hospitals kicks off the efforts of TataMD Check to align with healthcare institutions including hospitals, diagnostic chains and other healthcare facilities. During the next few weeks, Apollo Hospitals Group will ensure the availability of TataMD Check testing in eight hospitals in phase 1 and the location-wise quantities will be ramped up based on the demand and need for expanding this to other centres. The primary care clinics and Diagnostics Lab and Collection centre network of Apollo Diagnostics in all these cities will also support the collection, home collection as well as testing to support this initiative. The nationwide network of Apollo Health & Lifestyle Ltd has over 100 Clinics, 75 Labs and over 600 collection centres in 15 states across the country. These will be progressively utilised as needed to enhance the reach and convenience to patients. Till date the Apollo Hospitals Group has conducted over 2,50,000 COVID Tests and has treated over 75,000 patients for COVID-19. Tata MD will help train the key diagnostic clinicians and staff at Apollo Hospitals and Apollo Diagnostics on new technology and effective testing protocols in the next few weeks. With its inherent advantages, TataMD Check is expected to help deliver quicker results and higher throughput of testing volumes as there are no minimum batch sizes limitations. Continuous quality control of kits using sensors as well AI-based result capture and analysis tool will help laboratories with image-based results, with full traceability of the sample and results that are accessible anywhere resulting in an enhanced patient experience. Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals (AHEL) and Managing Director, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited (AHLL) said, “The addition of Tata MD check as part of the testing arsenal will be a boost to the ongoing efforts that the country has been waging against this pandemic. We at Apollo are happy to partner with the Tata Group in what is potentially a revolutionary advancement in the COVID Testing Landscape. Apollo Hospitals Group has always been at the forefront in pioneering initiatives, adoption of new technologies for delivery of care, testing and prevention and we are happy to further the cause of Atmmnirbhar Bharat in providing the launch pad for adoption of this indigenously developed testing as a new addition to the array of COVID Testing. To create seamless anytime anywhere access for booking, individuals can download Apollo 24/7 app with the benefit of availing reports within 2hours.” “We are proud to partner with Apollo Hospitals which is acclaimed for its pioneering and unique position in India’s healthcare fabric. Apollo Hospitals has also been at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to fight this global pandemic at multiple levels including advocating of preventive efforts, aggressive testing and holistic care. We believe that the association with Apollo Hospitals will catalyse the rapid adoption of TataMD Check as the efficient and preferred testing option as we begin to resume our lives again,” added Mr. Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO & MD, Tata Medical and Diagnostics. The process of collecting patient samples, RNA extraction and amplification remains same in TataMD CHECK as in other viral detection tests. However, the use of CRISPR-Cas9 Technology ensures quicker results due to a more agile process and AI-based automated result detection methodology. TataMD Check test kits are being manufactured at a quality-controlled production facility near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, performed the first Fast Track Total Knee Replacement in South India. Fast Track Total Knee Replacement is a daycare knee replacement surgery, devoid of hospital stay, minimal aftereffects of anaesthesia, pain, trauma, infection, above all speedy recovery and being back to normal routine in a couple of days. The revolutionary surgery was performed on a known diabetic 65-year-old female patient, by a team led by Dr K J Reddy, Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, on November 2nd, 2020. The patient was discharged the same evening after five hours of post-surgery observation, she has fully recovered since and is going about with her routine with ease and great comfort. Total knee Replacement (TKR) is a commonly performed but advanced orthopaedic procedure for severe, disabling knee pain due to Knee Arthritis. The excruciating knee pain often limits patient mobility and daily routine, warranting Total Knee Replacement. The surgery involves replacement of surfaces of the damaged knee joint with high quality metal implant, which restores the patient ability to walk pain free as before. Being a major procedure, it requires 3 or 4 days hospital stay traditionally. The latest advances in perioperative management revolutionises Total Knee Replacement, reduces hospital stay to less than a day, enables the patient to be on his legs quickly and embrace an independent, superior quality life, says Dr K J Reddy. The patient who underwent the first Fast Track Total Knee Replacement, Mrs Rita Verma, was unable to walk properly and perform her routine, due to severe pain in left knee because of degenerative osteoarthritis. The minimal trauma and being able to return home same day appealed to her and family and they opted for the Fast Track procedure. Being a known Diabetic, she underwent thorough pre-anaesthetic evaluation and after being deemed to be fit for surgery, was admitted early in the morning of November 2nd. Post an uncomplicated and successful surgery, she was kept under observation for five hours and was discharged by 2 pm the same day. Later at home, she was constantly monitored for the next two days by a nurse with the aid of all vital monitoring equipment and monitors, installed by Apollo Home Care Team at her home. A Physician and Physiotherapist visited her on both the days while the E-ICU facility at Apollo Hospitals ensured round the clock observation by Senior Doctors and critical care team from the hospital. The round-the-clock and high quality care coupled with physiotherapy enabled her to walk pain free the very next day. The Fast Track surgery with enormous patient benefits is set to revolutionise knee replacements in India, in no time the traditional knee surgery may become redundant. Treating surgeons and support teams being adept with latest techniques, aided by state-of-the-art E-ICU facilities, can bring about a rapid transition. The Fast Track Total Knee Replacement is a sophisticated procedure currently performed only at a few centers having the requisite infrastructure and proficient specialist teams. It involves using advanced surgical techniques performed with miniature instruments while administering regional anesthesia limited to the leg region. Miniature instruments ensure minimal incision, that coupled with regional anesthesia significantly diminishes pain, trauma, complications, infections and side effects generally associated with a surgery, besides aiding in the patient recouping fast. The post-surgery recovery period spent at home with suitable and manageable precautions, substantially reduces scope of infection. The homely ambience, home cooked food and staying amidst dear ones, accelerates recovery by manifold. However, the treating surgeon needs to be extra cautious while selecting the patient for this procedure, as patients over 80 years of age and those with co-morbidities need to be thoroughly assessed and only those found to be suitable should be considered for the new procedure.

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata has successfully performed Eastern India’s first breast and ovarian cancer risk reduction surgery on a 37-year-old homemaker and brought a sigh of relief to the family besides setting a record of sorts. Mrs. Mousumi Roy, a resident of Kuikota in Midnapore district, lost her mother due to breast cancer when she was only 10 years old. She later lost her maternal aunt to the same disease as well. Incidentally, her father also died of cancer. Earlier in January 2020, she was diagnosed with cancer in her right breast and underwent a breast conservation surgery in which only the cancerous tumour was removed and the remaining breast tissues and the contours of the breast was retained. She was treated by Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti, Consultant Onco-Surgeon, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata. She also got her BRCA test done, which came positive (high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer). Patient underwent left sided nipple sparing mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue while keeping the nipple intact) followed by an immediate reconstruction of the breast using an implant and her own muscles. Simultaneously, a laparoscopic bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy was also done to remove her both ovaries and fallopian tubes. “I have treated my cancer like just what it is, a potentially killer disease. My single-minded focus was to rid myself of it completely. My husband has been a pillar of support.” said Mrs. Mousumi, a post-graduate in English Literature and the mother of a seven-year-old girl. Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti, Surgeon and Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata had performed the surgery on her right breast in January 2020 (after which the patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy under Dr. Indranil Ghosh, Consultant Medical Oncologist and adjuvant radiation under Dr. Tanweer Shahid, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata). Dr. Chakrabarti again led the team for the eight hour-surgery on the left breast and for removal of the ovaries. The team also comprised of Dr. Ramna Banerjee (Consultant Gynaecologist), Dr. Saptarshi Bhattacharya (Consultant Plastic Surgeon) and Dr. Tapas Kar (Surgical Oncologist). “Ms. Roy’s BRCA report had shown that there was over 90 per cent risk of her developing breast cancer. But after the surgeries, it has come down to less than five per cent, which is lower than the risk faced by the average Indian woman of her age,” said Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti. Renowned Cancer Surgeon and Director of Surgical Oncology at Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital, Dr. Shaikat Gupta, stressed on the multi-modal treatment that could be offered to the patient only because Apollo is a multispeciality hospital. “In special and difficult cases like this, the treatment modalities are discussed in what we call a tumour board that comprises medical, surgical and radiation oncologists. Doctors of other specialities are invited as a particular case demands.” The course of treatment in this case was also seconded by the National Cancer Grid of India. “Most women, especially in the young age group, are not willing to go for risk reducing surgeries. But Ms Mousumi can serve as an example for them,” said Dr Indranil Ghosh, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital. Mr. Rana Dasgupta, CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, had a special word of praise for Mrs. Mousumi. “In eastern India, we are equipped to perform the most advanced surgeries and medical procedures. We thank Ms. Mousumi Roy for bestowing her trust in us. Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital can boast of many firsts.” Echoing him, Dr. Syamasis Bandyopadhyay, Director of Medical Services, AGHL, lauded the patient while also emphasising the need to diagnose and treat cancer early. “I hope the women who are at risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer would draw inspiration from Ms. Roy and speak to their clinicians about the options at their disposal to conquer cancer rather than keeping the disease under wraps and lending it further potency,” he said.

Apollo Hospitals Group partners with India Medtronic Private Limited to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for advanced stroke management for the first time in India. The USFDA approved AI platform for stroke diagnosis has been validated by clinical trials. The AI software will provide automated analysis in less than two minutes as against currently accepted imaging practices for diagnosis of stroke that takes up to one hour to complete, thus enabling faster decision making in stroke where every second counts. Through this partnership, Medtronic will help in bringing in stroke technologies, technical expertise, training and comprehensive stroke management with the integration of AI platform at the Apollo Institute of Neurosciences at ten locations in Apollo Hospitals across the country, taking stroke management to the next level by standardizing stroke diagnosis and empowering clinicians to make faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Stroke is a major global public health problem with 1 in 4 people over the age of 25 years suffering a stroke during their lifetime, according to data from the World Stroke Organization. The fourth leading cause of death today, around 1.8 million people in India suffer from a stroke every year and it is only early treatment that can reduce morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to improve the treatment and management of stroke using digital technologies. Today, AI platforms are improving patient care and outcomes every day, and at Apollo Hospitals, we are proud to be at the forefront of the AI revolution in healthcare. This partnership brings together Apollo Hospitals’ clinical expertise, AI platform and stroke technologies from Medtronic to transform stroke treatment in the country. With this partnership, Apollo Hospitals continues to be the torchbearer in adoption of digital technology as one of the first hospital groups in South Asia to use AI in an organized and scalable manner for comprehensive stroke management. Also, with the introduction of 640 slice CT Scan having a capability of doing cerebral angiogram, the patient will definitely gain by means of advanced technical adaptations in stroke treatment. AI has been a boon for the healthcare industry and has transformed many different aspects from drug development to diagnostics and clinical medicine and surgery. It has simplified the lives of patients, doctors and hospital administrators, taking over tasks that are routine, saving time and costs, freeing the doctors to give more time to their patients. It has helped to reduce the chances of errors in diagnostic processes and medical errors due to heavy caseloads.” Mr. Madan Krishnan, Vice President, Medtronic Indian Subcontinent said, “Medtronic has been leading the fight against acute ischemic stroke (AIS) – enabling our physician partners with meaningful stroke technologies to empower their expertise. There is a huge unmet need with regards to stroke awareness and therapy in India. Medtronic has been partnering with hospitals to create centers of excellence in the country , so that patients are identified faster, and they receive the best treatment. We are aiming to address the current treatment gaps in stroke with our innovative technologies, aiming at reducing door to needle time, thereby potentially improving outcomes for patients. Our partnership with Apollo Hospitals will further our goal of creating awareness and providing quicker access to quality healthcare for stroke patients in India.” The AI platform uses artificial intelligence to create high quality, advanced images from non-contrast CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, and MRI diffusion and perfusion scans, helping hospitals to improve time-critical triage or transfer decisions and facilitate better patient outcomes. The stroke team will be able to remotely access the brain scans of stroke patients with AI analysis on mobile app or email for faster decision making without losing time. Other benefits include physicians being able to evaluate the patients remotely and visit in-person only when the AI analysis of the scans suggest indication for treatment. This will help to reduce unnecessary exposure in a COVID situation. The AI system will also generate a valid document proof to support the clinician’s decision taken on the course of treatment for a stroke patient. Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The Apollo Hospitals – Medtronic partnership will bring about a paradigm shift in acute stroke management, building and establishing a world-class stroke program with a uniform stroke protocol across the group. Trials have shown success in achieving substantially larger clinical benefits through the use of AI technology and the Apollo – Medtronic partnership will support early diagnosis and effective clinical decision in stroke patients leading to the shortest treatment time for better clinical outcomes. While early treatment leads to the best clinical outcome, a trial of stroke patients treated up to 6 to 24 hours with use of AI technology lead CTP or MRI scans showed better clinical outcomes for the patients. The partnership also envisages a structured training and education program to further improve the clinical efficiency of the Apollo stroke clinicians and support team.” The Apollo Hospitals and Medtronic partnership to build comprehensive stroke management will lead to multiple patient benefits. The use of AI platform in stroke management will reduce diagnosis time from 60 mins to 2 mins. The time saved is brain cells saved as every minute of delay leads to 2 million more brain cells dying. A stroke at odd hours of night will not result in patient losing time for an expert review to begin treatment. Time between onset of stroke to treatment is significantly reduced which can help in improving outcome, reducing hospital stay and saving costs for the patient not just on hospitalization but also on follow-up and rehabilitation. Every patient will receive appropriate treatment as per the indication and not lose any treatment opportunity. Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The Apollo Institute of Neurosciences has revolutionized high-end neurological care in the country. With a legacy of innovation and excellence, it has been working at the cutting-edge of neuro-imaging, neuro-intensive care and medical and radiation oncology services to deliver outcomes that match the leading neurology institutions in the world. A highly skilled multidisciplinary neurosciences team dedicates itself to enhancing patient care through cutting edge technology and the partnership with Medtronic will elevate the quality of stoke care with world-class AI-powered stroke treatment.” Apollo Hospitals’ comprehensive stroke center equipped with 24/7 emergency, a team of specialized experts, CT, MRI facility, and capability of specialized surgical and interventional therapies will have treatment taken to the next level through AI. With AI technology, stroke diagnosis will be standardized and scans will be available remotely within no time to the stroke physician. The technology will increase utilization of IV-tPA (intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke). It will also increase detection of LVO (large vessel occlusion) which accounts for up to 38% of acute ischemic strokes and utilization of mechanical thrombectomy (physical removal of the clot in the brain by a special device threaded through the blood vessels). The partnership will optimize the stroke protocol and create a strong regional tele-stroke network with the power of AI. The AI technology enabled advanced stroke management will be launched at the Apollo Institute of Neurosciences at Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru; Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai; Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai; Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad; Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi; Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Jayanagar, Bengaluru; Apollo Hospitals, Sheshadripuram, Bengaluru; Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysore; and Apollo Hospitals, Indore.

The Apollo Hospitals Group has launched Post-COVID Recovery Clinics across the hospital network. The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics will address the rising number of patients who have recovered from COVID but are suffering from the mid and long term persistent effects of the infection. Over 50% of COVID patients suffer from problems that include breathlessness, chest pain and heart issues, joint pains, vision problems, and memory loss months after contracting the novel coronavirus. The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics is manned by a team of specialists including Neurologists and Immunologists to help patients deal with the aftermath of COVID-19 and restore them to health. In Chennai, the Post-COVID Recovery Clinic will be conducted at the Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai. Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “We had realized early on that addressing the COVID challenge would require a comprehensive response plan and had launched Project Kavach in March, which integrated all aspects from patient education, screening and assessment, testing, to infrastructure for quarantine and treatment. With COVID-19 showing that it has lingering effects in patients who have recovered from the virus infection, it became necessary to add the element of post-recovery care to help recovered patients return to their normal life. We are launching these clinics across the group network in various cities. The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics would be a one-stop shop for patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but still have persistent medical effects and symptoms. The clinics will enable us to provide coordinated care without the patient having to run around to different specialists and avoid duplication of testing that a patient might otherwise undergo.” Dr. V. Ramasubramanian, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, said, “Many patients who have recovered from COVID-19 at our hospitals have been contacting us for symptoms that they are having, and not knowing where to go for them. To address these health issues faced by patients who have recovered from COVID-19, we have started the Post-COVID Recovery Clinics. These exclusive clinics for post-COVID care will help patients to connect to the specialised care that they need. We have laid down the guidelines and have trained the clinicians to ensure that patients get the correct treatment. The clinics will help patients recover completely from the consequences of COVID-19 and return to living life as before COVID.” COVID-19 impacts almost all the vital organs in the body. Apart from acute events like stroke and myocardial infarction, chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension are part of the post-COVID syndrome. A number of sudden deaths in post-COVID patients have been reported and most of these are attributed to acute cardiac events. Dr. Sundararajan, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Apollo Hospitals said, “COVID-19 attacks not just the lungs but other organs in the body and leaves behind lingering health issues. Some of the manifestations occur weeks and months after the treatment for acute phase is completed and patient has recovered and impact the well-being of individuals beyond the acute phase. While longer-term problems are more common among patients who have been hospitalized, even patients who have recovered from a mild case can suffer from the prolonged effects of the virus. Some of the long-term effects may be severe and disabling in nature. This specialized clinic will enable us to monitor symptoms of patients on an ongoing basis and delivery timely medical attention.” Dr. Suresh, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals said, “Before COVID-19, we were already facing a tsunami of NCDs that were responsible for over 70% of the deaths. The post-COVID syndrome is adding to this disease load and if not addressed with a special focus, will lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality beyond the pandemic with a large number of chronically ill individuals who have recovered from COVID. The specialised clinics will prevent acute components of the post-COVID syndrome from progressing further and effectively manage the chronic situations which form part of the post-COVID syndrome through a patient-focused, comprehensive, tele-consultation and clinic based program.” The Post-COVID Recovery Clinics will initially be launched in Apollo Hospitals treating COVID-19 in Chennai, Madurai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mysore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Delhi, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The clinics will be manned by a dedicated team consisting of a Family Physician assisted by a nurse.

Mr. Dadasaheb Patil, a 56-year-old resident of Sangli, Maharashtra, successfully underwent a heart transplant surgery at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai. The heart was harvested from a 31-year-old cadaver donor and transported through a green corridor specially. The transport of the donor heart from Lower Parel to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai took just 25 minutes for covering a distance of 45 kilometres. The Heart Transplant team led by Dr. Sanjeev Jadhav, Consultant – Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, transplanted it into the recipient at Apollo Hospitals. The patient was suffering from ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy in which his heart’s ability to pump blood had decreased, which further lead to heart failure. Heart transplant was the only chance to give him a new lease of life. Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai said “The patient came to us 8 months back for a bypass surgery. During investigation, it was found that his heart function was only 25%. The surgery couldn’t take place then due to the COVID situation and he had to go back to his hometown, Sangli. In the following months, his heart functioning kept dropping and finally came to a situation where he needed complete life support and inotropes, which are medicines that increase the force of the heart’s contractions. He was admitted to multiple hospitals prior to his transplant as he encountered repeated heart failure. This was a race against time. As soon, as we were notified about the donor in Mumbai, the green corridor was activated, donor heart was harvested, transported and successfully transplanted. This also been a scientific challenge where doctors and nurses are risking their own lives and taking chances to save patients life. We are happy that the heart transplant was uneventful and the patient has recovered well.” Dr. Sanjeev was also assisted by a team of experts Dr. Shantesh Kaushik (Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeon), Dr. Sachin Sanagar (CVTS Surgeon), Dr Kamal Singh (CVTS), Dr Gunadhar Padhi (Intensivists), Dr Haridas Munde (Anaesthetist) and Dr Saurabh Tiwari (Anaesthetist). The heart transplant surgery took 90 minutes, and the patient was shifted to the ICU after completion, for observation. At Apollo Hospitals we have dedicated beds for our heart transplant patients in a well-equipped transplant ICU with trained nursing staff which helps us to provide the best care. All protocols were also put in place to prevent any risk of COVID infection. Mr. Dadasaheb Patil, the recipient of the donor heart said, “I had recently missed an opportunity for a transplant from a possible donor from Pune. For me, it was a battle against time as I had already suffered multiple episodes of heart failure. Thankfully, we found a donor and I am thankful to the Apollo Hospitals team for ensuring that the entire transplant went through smoothly. I am grateful to the donor’s family and the team of doctors for giving me this second chance at life!” Mr. Santosh Marathe, COO & Unit Head, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, said, “We are thankful to the authorities for their cooperation and support in creating the green corridor that made the transplant possible. With the rising cases of cardiovascular disease in the country, we need a robust system for prevention, early diagnosis, and management and treatment. In a short span of three years, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai has been recognised as one of the most advanced transplant centres in Western India with successful Liver, Kidney, Heart & Bone Marrow Transplants being performed by a dedicated team of specialists. We have a very competent clinical team which accesses Patients through Heart Failure Clinic and which can undertake very complex preoperative & post-operative care management for such cases.”