US surgeon offers free service in Jharkhand

17 Jun 2009, 2206 hrs IST,

RANCHI: The president-elect of the International College of surgeons (USA) and chairman of the Critical Care Task Force for the American Society of Transplant surgeons, Dinesh Ranjan, has offered to provide free medical service to the people of Jharkhand.

An alumnus of the Rajendra Medical College and Hospital (now Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences RIMS), Ranjan addressed a gathering of the RMCH-RIMS alumni here on Tuesday.

After deliberating extensively on liver transplant techniques, a field in which he attained expertise after moving out to the USA in 1979, Ranjan said that liver transplant, considered one of the most sophisticated organ transplant techniques, is still in a primary stage in India.

Ranjan has conducted over 1000 liver transplants in the University of Kentucky and helped set up transplant facilities in Albama and Egypt. He acknowledged his association with this tribal-dominated state of the country. "In India, liver transplantation is practised in metros like Delhi and Mumbai. Since it is difficult for people to bear the cost of transplantation and lodging in metros, it would be convenient for patients if such a facility is available here," he said. Ranjan called upon the local medical fraternity to come up with a project here. He offered free medical service to such a facility on behalf of his team. He said even the state government could utilize his expertise and experience. "Recently, I facilitated set-up of transplantation facilities in Albama and Egypt. I would be happy to do this for my own state," he said. Speaking on the success of liver transplant and the intricacies involved in it, Ranjan said that the survival rate is more than 90 per cent in the first year of surgery and the risk gradually diminishes with time. "Liver is the only organ in the human body that grows to its normal size even if half of the portion is removed. This unique aspect of the liver encouraged surgeons to try liver transplants. The results, so far, have been highly encouraging," he said. As against over 16000 liver transplantation carried out all over the world annually, more than 5000 transplantation is done in the USA. Ranjan said that live donor transplantation and cadaveric transplantation are two different aspects in which surgeons have to be very cautious while dealing with the live donors. "Our expertise comes into play when we operate upon a healthy person and take a part of his liver for transplanting it into another patient and ensuring at the same time that the healthy person's condition remains fit," he said. Speaking about the medical expenses on liver transplantation, Ranjan said that the process is cheaper in India and involves an expenditure of around Rs 15-20 lakh. He said the same process is carried out in the USA at an expense of around $200,000. Via: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

http://livertransplantconsultant.blogspot.com/2010/08/thanks-to-my-friend-anshu-gupta.html

Liver Transplant Consultant: Thanks to my friend Jyotsna Verma www.indialivertransplant.com,Liver Transplant in India - Liver Transplant Coordinator's Perspective. An Informed decision about Liver Transplant is necessary for Best Results and for Removing Unnecessary Costs.

Consult regarding Liver, Liver Disease, Pre-Transplant Preparation, Peri or Post Transplant Care or any queries related to this field. To get the best result out of this life-saving procedure of Liver Transplant, it is advisable to LOOK before you LEAP. A sincere Consultation and Patient Education Session related to Liver Diseases and Liver Transplantation can Solve 100s of Problems & 1000s of Queries , which will ultimately Save Lacs of your Hard-earned money.

Once again Thanks to my friend Jyotsna Verma well wisher of Anshu Gupta her family her father Late Sh. Govind Ram, Dr. A. S. Soin, Dr. Subash Gupta, Dr Samiran Nundy, Dr Vinay Kumaran, Apollo,SGRH,Medanta and all other persons related to Liver Transplant in India

http://livertransplantconsultant.blogspot.com

Video: Dr Russell Blaylock Nutrition and Behavior – Aspartame MSG

In this lecture, Dr. Russell Blaylock explains one of the most important connections between nutrition and our health, how nutrition affects our behavior.

Citing a series of important studies, he shows that good nutrition can powerfully enhance our memory, mood, and behavior in a socially desirable way. Like wise he shows us that poor nutrition can lead our youth into a world of violence, crime, depression and suicide

By using an impressive array of studies on both juvenile and adult prisoners, Dr.
Blaylock demonstrates these principals and outlines specific measures you can take to protect your children from these detrimental effects. Most importantly, he shows us that it is never too late to make these nutritional changes.

16-month baby girl becomes India's youngest cadaver donor

NEW DELHI: After losing their 16-month-old daughter Abhilasha, to a serious liver ailment, her parents couldn't just let her die. Wanting her spirit to live on in others, they donated her organs, making her India's youngest cadaver donor.

The little girl from Bhopal suffered from a serious liver condition known as Biliary Atresia since birth. Just three months old, she underwent a complicated procedure in Bangalore to correct the disconnect between her liver and intestine. Her doctors then referred her to the Apollo Hospital here to undergo a liver transplant.

"Abhilasha and her parents came to us from Bhopal for a liver transplant but a CT scan of her brain revealed that she was suffering with Hydrocephalus -- meaning that the fluid was rising in her brain. We couldn't perform the transplant," Anupam Sibal, Abhilasha's doctor and medical director of Apollo Hospitals, told reporters.

"Her neurological condition had to be resolved before a liver transplant could be offered. But sadly, due to her worsening liver function and deterioration in her neurological condition, she could not undergo a transplant," Sibal said.

After Abhilasha was declared brain dead on Feb 28, her parents decided to donate her organs.

The hospital had arranged for condolence ceremony on Monday, "saluting the spirit of Abhilasha and her parents".

"It was a difficult decision. But we knew she was gone and were not hesitant. With this donation, she has carried on...taking the essence of life beyond death," Vineeta, who was to be Abhilasha's liver donor herself, said.

Abhilasha's father Rajendra said in her "small life" she had managed to achieve a "big" deal.

"Being a father, I am deeply saddened. But am happy and content knowing what she achieved. She made it possible for others to live a happier life. We have kept her soul alive," said Rajendra, cradling Abhilasha's 3-year-old sister Ashlesha in his lap.

Abhilasha's two kidneys, her corneas and her skin tissues were used to help others, doctors said.

Apollo hospitals group's founding chairman Pratap C Reddy hailed the decision of Abhilasha's parents.

"They have taken a very courageous step. In this country, we need to see more such acts of courage. There is an acute shortage of donors and awareness is lax," Reddy said.

Ever since the Human Organ Transplant Act was passed in 1994 in the country, making it possible to receive transplants from brain dead donors, there has been little progress in the country's cadaver programme.

This Reddy attributed to the lack of awareness and discussion on the donor issues.

"Despite improved technology like ventilators and emergency measures to preserve crucial body organs since 2004, there have been just 1,000 cadaver donations in India. While in the US in just last year, there have been 22,000 cadaver donations," Reddy said.

Unique liver transplant in Delhi

Twenty specialists helped in 16-hour operation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

The proud team: Shourya Verma, with Dr. A. S. Soin (left), and Siya Thakur, with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital’s chief paediatric hepatologist Dr. Neelam Mohan, during a press conference in the Capital on Thursday to announce the country’s first-ever domino liver transplant.

NEW DELHI: Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here have performed a domino liver transplant, a unique procedure in which two life-saving liver transplants are performed using one donor liver.

While 22-month-old Shourya was cured of maple syrup urine diseases (MSUD) by a transplant performed using 20 per cent of his aunt’s liver, his own liver was in turn transplanted into two-year-old Siya, who was battling terminal liver failure due to rare condition called langerhan’s cell histiocytosis. It is due to the sequential nature of the transplants that the domino transplant is so named.

Hospital chairman B.K. Rao said: “Twenty specialists helped in performing this marathon 16-hour-long operation on January 31. Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease and MSUD is one such disease.”

MSUD is caused by lack of an enzyme and a patient with MSUD who receives a liver transplant is able to make enough of the enzyme in the new liver to overcome the shortage elsewhere in the body. In turn, an MSUD patient’s liver which is otherwise entirely normal, can be transplanted into another person without passing on the disease, because that patient’s other cells still make the enzyme lacking in the liver.

For the surgery, the team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was divided into three units and it prepared the donor liver, Shourya’s own liver and Siya’s diseased liver for removal sequentially in three separate operating theatres. First the donor liver and then Shourya’s own liver were removed and prepared on the bench for transplantation by re-constructing the vital blood vessels with complex vein grafts. Shourya was transplanted first and then his liver was transplanted into Siya.

Unique liver transplant gives fresh life to kids

New Delhi, February 20: 22-month old boy Shourya and two-year old girl Siya Thakur have got a fresh lease of life, thanks to the ‘domino liver transplant’. Two of them are perhaps the world’s youngest patients to have had such an operation."

New Delhi, February 20: 22-month old boy Shourya and two-year old girl Siya Thakur have got a fresh lease of life, thanks to the ‘domino liver transplant’. Two of them are perhaps the world’s youngest patients to have had such an operation.

A team of 20 specialists from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, successfully performed the domino liver transplant that entails sequential surgery, on January 31. The procedure went on for about 16 hours.

The transplant that made use of 20 percent of his aunt’s liver, has healed Shourya who was suffering from Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD).

Meanwhile, his own liver was transplanted to 2-year old Siya, who was struggling for life due to an uncommon liver failure condition called Langerhans’s cell histiocytosis (LCH).

Numerous chemotherapy sessions however helped Siya in checking LCH; the process damaged her liver to such an extent that a transplant was the only solution left.

According to doctors, Shourya is the first patient in India and youngest in the world to receive a living donor liver transplant for curing MSUD. And Siya, she is the youngest in the world to get a domino liver transplant.

The operation was conducted upon Shourya, his aunt Mukta and Siya in three distinct theatres. Initially, the donor liver was removed followed by removal of Shourya’s liver. Thus, the boy got his aunt’s liver, and his liver in turn was transplanted into Siya.

Dr. AS Soin, director of liver transplantation at Ganga Ram Hospital, and the chief surgeon involved in the transplants, remarked, “Domino transplants are rare because there are very few conditions in which you can cure the patient with a transplant and then transplant his or her organ into someone else without passing on the disease.”

MSUD is the outcome of the deficiency of an enzyme in the body. A liver transplant can enable the patient to tide over its shortfall in other body parts by making sufficient amount of the enzyme in the new organ.

A patient suffering from MSUD has an otherwise normal liver that can be transplanted into somebody else without the risk of communicating the disease.

MSUD is characterized by vomiting, poor feeding, weight loss, convulsions and finally results in coma. High acid levels in the urine cause it to smell like burnt sugar- the reason why it is named Maple Syrup Urine Disease.

Gallstones risk factor for colon tumours

People with gallstones appear to be at an increased risk of colon tumours called adenomas, which eventually develop into cancer over a period time, if not removed.

Studies in the past have reported a moderately increased risk of colorectal adenoma in patients who have undergone gallbladder removal. But very few studies have investigated the association between gallstones that have not been removed and colorectal adenoma. To explore this association, researchers from America identified 44,58 people who were asked to complete questionnaires on lifestyle habits. The participants also underwent ultrasound, to look for gallstones, and colonoscopy, to look for colorectal adenomas.

Overall, 4189 participants had normal gallbladders while gallstones were detected in 206 participants, of whom 63 underwent gallbladder removal.

It was found that the rate of colorectal adenoma was 30 percent in gallstone patients, significantly higher than the 18 percent rate in those with normal gallbladders. Only 15 percent of patients who had their gallbladders removed developed colorectal adenomas, which was not significantly different from patients without gallstones.

The study indicated that gallstones increased the overall risk of colorectal adenomas by around 60 percent. The researchers attributed the findings to the cancer-promoting properties of bile, the primary constituent of gallstones.

American Journal of Gastroenterology
December 2008

http://doctor.ndtv.com/news

3-year-old’s rare liver disorder cured

Doctors from the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi have cured a three year old girl from a rare disease which prevented her from leading a normal life.

Fatima suffered from Crigler Najjar Syndrome (CNS), a rare and fatal liver disease.

Her only means of staying alive was phototherapy. Undressed she would be exposed to specific wavelengths oflight for 10-16 hours a day, every day.

Dr Subhash Gupta (liver transplant expert) and Dr Anupam Sibal (paediatrician) transplanted a part of Fatima’s father’s liver. That has brought the bilirubin level to normal heights.

“Very high levels of bilirubin can cause permanentbrain damage. The main therapy for patients with this disease is phototherapy. Greater the surface area of the body that is exposed to light and greater the intensity of light falling on the skin, higher is the efficacy of phototherapy.

Fatima was living in agony, spending 10 to 14 hours every day under phototherapy since birth. This was severely restricting her lifestyle. Even travelling and vacations were a great problem.

Since the defect was with the liver, we decided to transplant part of the healthy liver of Fatima’s father into her. She will not require any more phototherapy. She will only have to be on medicines all her life, the dosages of which will lessen as she ages.

Both Fatima and her father are doing well. Her eyes and skin are no more yellow in colour.”
– Dr Gupta

Cured, Fatima has returned to her family in the Middle East and can start a normal life.

Via: http://www.goodnewsblog.com

High success rate for liver transplants at Delhi's Apollo

New Delhi: She came to Delhi from a Middle Eastern country with a rare disease and little hope of surviving. Three weeks later, this three-year-old girl left India with new hopes in her eyes, which had dramatically turned white from the deep yellow she was born with, fully cured and assured of living a normal life.

The girl, whose identity is being held back on family request, was born with a liver disorder leading to an enzyme deficiency.

According to Dr Anupam Sibal, medical director of Delhi's Apollo Hospital, the crigler najjar syndrome is found only in one child out of 0.162 million and if left untreated can even lead to death.

"She was in a very serious condition when she came to us," said Dr Sibal.

As it turned out, the problem was genetic. Three cousins from her mother's side had already died from this disease.

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The only treatment in this case is a liver transplant. Her father was a willing donor since under the law only a family member can be a donor in cases of liver transplant.

Two teams of doctors, led by Dr Subhash Gupta carried out a difficult operation lasting over 12 hours to ensure this child could lead a normal life.

Delhi's Apollo Hospital has emerged as one of the most successful centres for liver transplant operations due to its high success rate which stands at 90 per cent and 100 per cent in cases of transplants done on children as well as being the most cost effective.

Compared to UK where a similar operation costs $150,000 (Dh551,000) and in US where it costs $300,000, the family had to pay the hospital less than $50,000. Apollo has undertaken 120 such operations in the past 18 months including 13 children, who have all returned home fully recovered.

"All liver transplant surgeries are rare considering there are just about 30-40 centres across the world which do about 100 transplants each every year," said Dr Gupta.

He took out 20 per cent of of her father's liver, although in some cases up to 60 per cent liver is taken out from the donor's body. Donor's liver grows back to its normal size within two weeks. The donor's liver was attached to the child's liver and all the tiny vessels were joined under a microscope, said D Gupta, adding that a few years ago such an operation was unimaginable.

Apollo Hospital has become as the most chosen for all liver transplants and at present five patients from the Middle East, including one from Dubai, are undergoing treatment here.

"She was unable to walk when she came to us. She had deep yellow eyes due to liver malfunction. By the time she left, she was able to walk and her parents had never seen her like before", Dr Sibal said.

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Via: http://www.gulfnews.com/world/India

Sonia Gandhi arranges for Pakistani boy’s liver transplant

New Delhi, November 19, 2008

Dr Subhash Gupta gives new life to another pakistani child.

Mobeen Ahmad lives in Lahore and is in on his first visit to Delhi. He loved the Red Fort, almost as much as cricket, which he is happy he can continue playing.

The 14-year-old nearly died of cirrhosis of the liver last month. A liver transplant was his only hope, and a transplant in Delhi’s Apollo Hospital helped him live.

After doctors in Pakistan had given up all hopes of his survival, his father Iftikar Ahmad approached Indian Congress President Sonia Gandhi for help.

“For a cook with a meagre income and 10 mouths to feed, raising 15 lakhs for surgery was impossible. Through a newspaper advertisement, the grievance cell raised money for the boys’ treatment,” said Archana Dalmia, head of Sonia Gandhi grievance cell.

Doctors at Apollo Hospital helped by waiving their fee, bringing down the treatment cost.

“When we first saw the boy, he had a bloated belly, yellow eyes, stunted growth and swollen nails. His liver was completely damaged and he had severe malnourishment. Before operating on him, it was imperative to restore his energy levels,” said Anupam Sibal, paediatric gastroentologist at Apollo.

A team led by liver transplant surgeon Dr Subhash Gupta did the surgery on October 21. His elder brother Bismil, 20, donated 40 per cent of his liver for the transplant. “Both the boys have recovered well and are ready to travel,” said Sibal.

Iftikar cannot contain his joy. “I have seen my boy sick since birth. Thanks to Srimati Gandhi who paid for the surgery and our travel costs, my son can realize his dreams of becoming a cricketer,” he said.

Via: http://www.hindustantimes.com

7-month old gets new liver

NEW DELHI: Sivojit Paul is only seven months old and he is also the youngest patient to undergo a successful liver transplant in India. Born with Seven-month-old Sivojit Paul is the youngest patient to undergo a successful liver transplant in India (TOI) biliary atresia, a liver disorder that does not allow bile excretion, Sivojit was operated upon at the IndraprasthaApollo Hospital on September 12. For Sivojit's mother Mummun Dubey Paul, a Kolkata-based advocate, her son's life has been the biggest gift and an end to the nightmare that was the last seven months. "I don't want to remember that time. It was really tough. But this is the best Durga puja gift and I'll cherish it all my life," she said. If it was an emotionally challenging experience for Sivojit's family, for the doctors at Apollo, it was a huge challenge too. "We have never operated upon such a young child. The smaller the baby, the more difficult it is to perform the surgery as the blood vessels are very small. Sivojit's condition was also not very good. We had a tough time feeding him as he had become very irritable and lethargic due to his medical condition," said Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior paediatric gastroenterologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. Doctors said Sivojit's condition deteriorated as the bile was not getting excreted despite a KASAI operation, in which the liver was joined to the small intestine, a few months ago. "He developed jaundice and there was no way out but to operate upon him. His father volunteered to donate his liver and we operated the two of them simultaneously in two operation theatres. Nearly 250 grams of his father's liver was taken and transplanted into Sivojit," said Dr Subhash Gupta, senior consultant, liver transplant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. It took a team of 24 doctors and nurses 12 hours to perform the transplant. With her son happily kicking into the air post-surgery, Sivojit's mother said, "He was very different earlier. He used to cry a lot. But now when I see him happy it brings a smile on my face." What made matters more complicated was the fact that Sivojit's condition was diagnosed very late. Doctors said late diagnosis was common in India and jaundice in newborns was not taken seriously. "A child with jaundice reaches a hospital after 33 days of birth and by the time he is diagnosed with biliary atresia or any other medical condition, more than three months have passed," said Dr Sibal. The success of the KASAI surgery, a preventive step to avoid liver transplant, is dependent on what stage it is carried out. "The important message is that parents should not ignore if jaundice persists for more than two weeks of life," said Dr Sibal. Via: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

15 month old baby Nihal gets liver transplant in Delhi hospital

New Delhi, August 27: Despite all odds against him, 15-month-old Nihal Upadhyay, weighing only six kilograms, has emerged winner in the battle of survival as doctors in the national capital carried out a successful liver transplant on him.

Nihal was brought to Apollo Hospital in April 2007 in a deteriorating health condition as he was suffering from Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis.

Because of the progressive liver disease and jaundice the child was unable to gain weight. "He weighed about 6.4 kgs in his 13th month which is incomparable to normal babies of his age. Deteriorating liver function and loss of weight indicated a need for liver transplant," Anupam Sibal, senior consultant Pediatrics, Indrapratha Apollo Hospitals, said.

"Surgery on such a child was a difficult task. He had no muscle reserve nor fat reserve and his blood vessels were too small. If we transplanted a liver, it would push up to his chest and make breathing impossible," recalled Sibal.

Along with this, there were other hurdles too awaiting for this child hailing from Kolkata. Born after two years of fertility treatment, Nihal was being treated under the free patient category but the money for the surgery and post operative care had to be raised.

A liver transplant requires anything between Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakh which was difficult for the low-income family to arrange.

Via: http:/justsamachar.com

Nehal's liver transplant surgery successfully done by Dr. Subash Gupta

"An eleven-month-old baby, Nehal, was fighting for his life at the Apollo hospital in Delhi."

I wanted to inform that, at last long awaited surgery of ailing baby "Nehal" has been performed. As we all aware that the surgery was most complicated , the efforts of the "Dr. Subash Gupta's, team proved successful".

I met baby Nehal and his mother yesterday. I was very happy to see the child and mother smiling...it was an experience which can't explain in words.....

Baby Nehal is doing well after his surgery. He is discharged from the Hospital.

His doctors at Apollo hospital performed his operation free of cost.

Meet: "True Guts" - The Movie

Crohn’s & UC Disease FILM

Crohn's Disease
A very inspirational movie to those living with Crohn’s Disease or Colitis and has received attention from various medical authorizes nationwide (e.g. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America).
http://www.trueguts.com
View Trailer...

About Movie...

For the first time ever, Crohn's Disease and colitis are being thrust into public awareness through a nationwide inspirational movie, True Guts: Struggle and Triumph over Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

True Guts is the story of what happens when individuals turn life altering Crohn's Disease and Colitis into a personal springboard to get more out of life. True Guts depicts individuals (including teenagers and young adults) with Crohn's or colitis and how each of them found ways to use his/her disease to improve their lives. Also included is advice from a nationally recognized gastroenterologist and psychiatrist, each breaking down the steps that are necessary to take control of your life with chronic diseases such as Crohn's or Colitis.
Watch film trailer here.

Pictures of stoma

Let’s start with the beginning.

This is a picture of an unprotected stoma opening:

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The following is a picture of a double stoma, the poor guy really looks beaten up.

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How a stoma bag looks on you. As you can see, it can easily be hidden below the clothes and one can continue having a normal life, he/she just needs to be a little more carefull. Here’s the picture:

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An important thing to be careful about when you have to take care of a stoma, you need to watch closely how the skin looks like around the stoma. For example, it is good to look like this :

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On the other hand, if the skin around the stoma looks like the next picture for more than two pouch changes, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible:

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And one last picture for you, this is a more like a sketch and it represents a stoma resulting from a descending colostomy

Via: http://stomastomata.com

Changing a stoma pouch

I have just found a little video with someone that is demonstrating how to change your stoma bag. It shows you how to change a one piece stoma bag and how to change a two piece stoma bag. It is nicely demonstrated, so if in need check this out.

Via: http://stomastomata.com

Nehal's liver transplant surgery by the third week of June.

"An eleven-month-old baby, Nehal, is fighting for his life at the Apollo hospital in Delhi."

I wanted to inform that, at last long awaited surgery of ailing baby "Nehal" is now slated to be performed on 24th June. As we all aware that the surgery is most complicated let us pray to the almighty that the efforts of the "Dr. Subash Gupta's, team will be successful".

Nehal has been battling chronic jaundice since he was born. He has been admitted to the hospital. Nehal is responding well and is gaining weight. We all are wishing for Nehal to be healthy so that his surgery can be performed.

His doctors at Apollo hospital are performing his operation free of cost.
Nehal's liver transplant surgery by the third week of June will be done by one of the best liver transplant surgeon "Dr Subash Gupta".

Delhi helps ailing baby

Thursday, May 15, 2008 (New Delhi)

Delhi has a big heart as proved by NDTV's viewers. A baby, who's been waiting for an operation, will finally be able to get it done.

Three weeks ago, MetroNation reported on Nehal's condition and the 15 lakhs required for his operation. But the amount was unaffordable for a family which survives on Rs 6000 a month.

But thanks to help provided by the people of Delhi, 12-month-old Nihal will finally get the liver transplant needed to keep him alive.

The baby has received money from across the globe. People have come forward and donated sums ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 10 lakh. And his parents are thankful not just for the money but also for their blessings.

MetroNation viewers donated more than Rs 5 lakhs. And the parents are happy.

Nehal has been battling chronic jaundice since he was born. His doctors at Apollo hospital are performing his operation free of cost.

The money donated for Nehal will be used for his surgery and post-operative care and treatment.

Dr Subhash Gupta, surgeon says, ''It's going to be a complicated surgery, especially because he is very young and not so developed.''

Nehal's mother Ms Upadhayay is thanking everyone for their help and hopes for the best.

''Now we just hope the surgery is successful. I thank people for their money and their blessings,'' she says.

Thus, with all the help and blessings, Nehal will go under the knife next week for a 12-14 hour operation.

Via: http://www.ndtv.com

Not a trophy, won’t be poster girl, says Kanupriya

First Published: 23:47 IST(18/5/2008)

Last Updated: 09:57 IST(19/5/2008)

Kanupriya Agarwal, India’s first test-tube baby, is proud to be living proof of one of the greatest medical achievements in the world. But she doesn’t want to be treated like a trophy, and certainly won’t be the poster girl of the Indian In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) industry.

Kanupriya, who’ll turn 30 on October 3, has reasons to say that. After years of being a subject of ridicule, she and Dr Subhash Mukherjee — the doctor who brought her to this world — are set to get the official stamp. Although some international journals recognised her as India’s first test-tube baby, and the world’s second, it is only now that the Parliament is ready to ratify it through a bill soon.

“I certainly do not want to be a poster girl of the IVF industry, which undermined Dr Mukherjee’s achievement for 30 years,” says Kanupriya, breaking her silence for the first time. “I am not a trophy but I am proud to be the living example of work of a genius.” All these years she and her family silently fought on — unlike Dr Mukherjee who committed suicide in 1981 unable to convince the medical fraternity and the government about his achievement. An inquiry by the Bengal government rejected his claim, and he was even transferred. His death inspired a movie — Ek Doctor Ki Maut.

Kanupriya says her parents suffered humiliation as she was growing up in Kolkata, her birthplace. But they never passed it on to her. “My parents did a wonderful job of keeping all the pressure away and helping me grow as a mature, reasonable individual,” she says. “It was not easy for them… they were made to feel like accomplices of Dr Mukherjee in his misdeed. There were insinuations of the worst kind….”

An MBA from Symbiosis, Pune and working for a private firm, Kanupriya lives in Gurgaon. She says the recognition for Dr Mukherjee came as a relief to her parents. Looking at the brighter side, she says: “I feel truth has prevailed.”

Via: http://www.hindustantimes.com

Latest News about Apollo Hospitals in India

Apollo Hospitals in India Latest News, India Apollo Hospitals Latest News, Latest News about Apollo Hospitals in India

How Prone Are You to Heart Attack? – Apollo Hospitals Would Tell You in 10 Seconds …

Apollo Hospitals in India launch the 64 Slice CT Angio Scan to diagnose how prone is a person to heart attack. The breakthrough technology would minutely scan the arteries and walls of the heart for blocks and calcium deposits to generate highly clear cardiac images without the incision of a single needle. Moreover, the painless procedure would be over in 10 seconds without any hospitalization.

Apollo Hospital Ties-up with Johns Hopkins Institute, USA to Offer World Class Facilities…

State of the art medical facilities and expertise are now available right here in India by virtue of a comprehensive agreement between Johns Hopkins Institute and Apollo Hospitals in India. The institute, which has been rated as the best hospital in United States for 16 consecutive years, would cooperate with Apollo Hospitals in India toward establishing the facilities for advanced genetic testing and minimally invasive surgical centre along with up-to-date medical education and training.

JCI Accreditation for 3 Apollo Hospitals in India…

Three branches of the Apollo Hospitals in Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad have been conferred with JCI Accreditation (Joint Commission International). The accreditation, based on international consensus of standard and quality in medical organizations, is considered as the most prestigious one in the field of healthcare. The accreditation for some more of the branches are on the cards.

Apollo Hospitals Adds Bangalore & Mumbai in its Map

With the opening of new branches in Bangalore and Mumbai, Apollo Group of Hospitals charts it new road to growth. The super specialty hospital in Bangalore and 5 Apollo Clinics in Mumbai would also take the healthcare in these two Indian metro cities to a new level. The Bangalore branch focuses on tertiary care and preventive facilities whereas high-end diagnostic facilities are the specialty of the Mumbai based clinics.

New Technology Launched at Apollo Hospitals in India

State of the art technology for diagnosis and patient care has remained a forte of the Apollo Hospitals in India. The Hyderabad center hits the headline as the first-ever private hospital in India to install PET CT facilities. The world-famous healthcare group also launched 3.0 Tesla MRIs at various branches across India.

Think of Organ Transplantation, Think of Apollo Hospitals in India…

In the field of human organ transplantation Apollo Hospitals in India offers world-class facilities and expertise. The branch in Delhi has completed 8 successful years of Kidney and Liver Transplant. The group also boasts of 7 Renal Transplant Centres, 2 Liver Transplant Centres and 1 Bone Marrow Transplant Centre across India. The centers together have succeeded in 10,000 Kidney Transplants, 150 Bone-Marrow Transplants and more than 75 Liver Transplants which bears testimony to the facilities and expertise they offer.

Medicalindiatourism.com offers online booking of medical tour packages to India. To book a tour or for more information, please fill out the form below and send to us.

Via: http://www.medicalindiatourism.com

First robotic surgery to remove tumour

18 May 2008, 1114 hrs IST,IANS

TORONTO: Canadian doctors have created history by performing the world's first robotic surgery to remove brain tumour.

In the landmark surgery, neurosurgeons at Calgary's Foothills Medical Centre guided a newly developed robotic system - called NeuroArm - to remove an egg-shaped tumour from the brain of a woman.

Twenty-one-year-old Paige Nickason was discharged from the hospital two days after the nine-hour-long surgery “I was happy to help by being a part of this historical surgery,'' she said in a statement at the weekend.

The woman said she was scary at first. ``But I really trust my doctors and know they would keep me safe.''

During the surgery, the two-armed robot, which used surgical instruments as its hands, was guided by surgeons through a remote control system and an imaging screen.

``This is a turning point in the performance and teaching of neurosurgery. NeuroArm will improve surgical outcomes as it is less invasive and more delicate in its touch,'' said Garnette Sutherland, who is the brain behind NeuroArm and professor of neurosurgery at the University of Calgary.

Sutherland termed the surgery ``a technical achievement in the use of image-guided robotic technology to remove a relatively complex brain tumour.''

He said NeuroArm would bring precision to neurosurgery as it can `move in smaller increments than a surgeon's hand.'

Whereas a surgeon's hand can move in increments of one or two millimeters, he said, NeuroArm is capable of increments of up to 50 microns - which is the approximate width of a strand of human hair.

The woman has been diagnosed with a disease called neurofibromatosis which leads to tumour formation on brain nerves that can affect the senses.

A fist-sized tumour was removed from her brain through traditional surgery just two months ago.

Surgeons say tumours will keep forming in her brain, but they need to be detected early to prevent any harm to her.

Interestingly, Sutherland credited the popularity of videogames for their (surgeons) skills in manipulating this robotic surgery. Being adept at videogames, he said, today's kids will make excellent surgeons as they will have the requisite hand-eye coordination to manipulate robotic techniques. performed on Monday.

Via: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com