Apollo Hospitals: Centre of clinical excellence

Two leading medical professionals from the group elaborate on Spine Surgery and the Liver and Multi-Organ Transplant programme

Apollo Hospitals, established in 1983 by Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, is India's first corporate hospital, and has emerged as Asia's foremost integrated healthcare services provider. It has a robust presence across the healthcare ecosystem, including hospitals, pharmacies, primary care and diagnostic clinics.

Two leading medical professionals from the group elaborate on Spine Surgery at group hospitals and the Liver and Multi-Organ Transplant programme at the Hyderabad hospital. Excerpts: Dr. Sajan K. Hegde, Chief Spine Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Group

Technology changing spine surgery

Spine Surgery has evolved from being one of the most complex surgical interventions to a technology-based and enabled surgical procedure.We have pioneered minimally invasive spine surgery in India and this would mean, smaller incisions, less trauma to tissues, faster healing, less chances of infection and faster relief. It also adds to lesser hospital stay, less cost and of course quicker return to normal life.

Choosing an appropriate spine care centre

A patient or his/ her family has to look at the track record of the hospital, profile of the surgeon, technology at use and support services, while choosing an appropriate spine care centre. Add to this an adequate clinical bandwidth supported by cardiac anaesthetist, well qualified neuro physicians, advanced CT/MRI etc.

Robotics in spine surgery

The most commonly used robotics in spine surgery is Renaissance Robotic Guidance system; we have introduced the same in India. The next level will have interventional robotics. We do have Da Vince Robotics at Apollo, which we use in Onco surgeries, Uro etc., but however not in Spine.

Need to be aware of Scoliosis

Scoliosis shows up most often during growth spurts, usually when children are between 10 and 15 years old. About the same number of boys and girls are diagnosed with minor idiopathic scoliosis. But curves in girls are 10 times more likely to get worse and may need to be treated.

Spine care centre

We have established an advanced Institute of Spine Surgery, which is backed up by an eminent team. I have pioneered various spine interventions including the usage of shape memory alloy, first charite disc replacement, first mazor robotic spine surgery; our full-fledged rehab unit has robotic rehab equipment.

Dr Manish Verma, Consultant & Head of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary- Pancreatic Unit, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad

Liver and Multi-Organ Transplant programme at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad: Redefining Benchmarks in Transplantation

Apollo group has been the frontrunner in the field of organ transplantation in India. The transplant programme at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad started over two decades ago. In addition to being one of the oldest transplant programmes in the region, the hospital has been astute in adopting the most modern and up-to-date medical protocols, and has consistently remained abreast with the latest developmentsin medical science. Presently, transplantation of the Liver, Kidney, Heart, Lung, Pancreas, and Cornea are routinely performed at the hospital. With about 300 transplants performed in 2016, this is one of the high volume transplant centres of India.

Liver Transplant programme

The liver transplant programme is one of the most successful in the world. Live Donor Liver transplants are routinely performed with excellent outcomes, both for adults and children. A multidisciplinary team of doctors consisting of transplant surgeons, hepatologists, anesthesia and critical care specialists, infectious diseases specialists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists and psychologists take care of the patients.

The greatest achievement of the multi-organ transplant programme is the success of the liver transplant operations. With less than 5 per cent peri-operative mortality for live donor liver transplantation for patient with cirrhosis, this is one of the most successful liver transplant programmes of the world.

Our record in donor safety is impeccable with all our live donors getting discharged within 8-10 days of surgery. With least complication rates, re-exploration rates, short hospital stay, and long term survival, our centre, consistently outperforms others in terms of clinical parameters.

In addition to being a centre of clinical excellence, the liver transplant programme is a leader in research and innovation.

Source : Khaleej Times , 14th August 2017