EMERGENCY NEUROSURGERY ON COVID-19

EMERGENCY NEUROSURGERY ON COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENT AT MGM HEALTHCARE

In these unprecedented times, when cases are heard about hospitals refusing to even admit or treat symptomatic COVID-19 suspects for any other ailments, MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of the city, not just admitted but also successfully completed an emergency neurosurgery procedure on a COVID-19 positive patient.

23-year patient was presented with a spinal tumour due to which he was suffering with severe lower back pain and a rapidly progressing numbness in his legs. Control of his bowel and bladder functions also became very difficult for him. Surgery was the need of the hour and the only option. But unfortunately, he tested COVID-19 positive.

Explaining the patient’s condition during admission, Dr. K. Sridhar, Director & Group Head - Institute of Neurosciences & Spinal Disorders, MGM Healthcare said, “Neuro emergencies cannot wait as any delay in management can have disastrous effects on the patient.” 

 “As the patient’s condition was rapidly deteriorating, we had no option but to perform the surgery despite being tested positive for COVID-19.  Meticulous planning was needed with respect to manpower and logistics. Everyone in the team were sensitized on the use of PPEs to minimize the risk of exposure. The surgery had to be done with utmost precaution and safety, as the doctors, nurses and technicians were all at risk. At the same time, we were aware that his future lay in our hands.  Despite the challenges, surgery was completed successfully and we mobilised him out of bed and got him to walk without pain the very next day,” he added. 

Commenting on the case, Harish Manian, CEO, MGM Healthcare said, “There comes a time in the lives of medical professionals where despite adverse circumstances, a decision needs to be taken and implemented. These decisions are not the usual day-to-day decisions, but those where it’s a matter of life saving. It’s indeed gratifying experience to have been able to give a new lease of life to the young man.”  

ORGAN FLOWN FROM PUNE TO CHENNAI AMIDST THE

ORGAN FLOWN FROM PUNE TO CHENNAI AMIDST THE PANDEMIC FOR A SUCCESSFUL HEART TRANSPLANT AT MGM HEALTHCARE

§  Donor heart flown down to Chennai from Pune by air ambulance

§  ‘Green Corridors’ created in both the cities

Despite the enormous challenges posed during these COVID-19 times, MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of the city, today announced the successful completion of a second critical heart transplant in the hospital since the lockdown began.  The heart transplantation was led by Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan, Chairman & Director of Cardiac Sciences and Director of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program at MGM Healthcare, along with his team of transplant specialists including Dr. Suresh Rao K. G. and Dr. Srinath V. The organ transplantation regulatory authorities and surgeons from Pune extended their full support in making this heart transplant a success especially considering that it occurred during the COVID times.

The transplant was performed on a 37-year-old lady from Chennai. She had been suffering from ischemic cardiomyopathy. The patient was suffering from end stage heart failure and transplant was the only form of survival.

MGM Healthcare received an alert on August 15, 2020 about a 39-year-old brain dead female patient at a private hospital in Pune. The cause of her brain death was reported to be Brain Hemorrhage.

MGM Healthcare immediately confirmed the requirement as the recipient was already registered in the waiting list handled by National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). Post registration, she was waiting for a suitable donor. Once the deceased patient in Pune was identified based on medical compatibility, the recipient was informed about the possibility of the transplant taking place after taking consent from the donor’s family.

“The biggest challenge faced was the non-availability of any commercial flight between Pune and Chennai around the organ retrieval time. As the transplant was funded by Tamil Nadu Govt scheme and no commercial flight was not available arranging a chartered flight was challenging. We approached Aishwarya trust for the same and Mrs Chitra was kind enough to sponsor the same and an air ambulance was arranged” said Dr K R Balakrishnan.

The respective Traffic Police Departments in both Pune and Chennai opened ‘Green Corridors’ for road travel from the hospital in Pune to Pune Airport; and from Chennai Airport to MGM Healthcare. The donor organ landed in Chennai at 6:30 P.M. on August 16, 2020. The ambulance carrying the organ reached MGM Healthcare from Chennai Airport in 11 minutes flat, which under normal traffic conditions would take anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half. The transplant procedure started immediately after the heart reached MGM Healthcare. Post-transplant, the patient has been moved to ICU for observation.

Commenting on the transplant Dr Suresh Rao said “The Heart transplant was successfully performed by 9:00 pm and the patient is off ventilator and doing well”.

Speaking on the occasion, Harish Manian, CEO, MGM Healthcare said, “This is indeed a proud moment for MGM Healthcare…an instance where despite the challenges posed on account of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, various state machineries including the Traffic Police Department, Airport Authorities, Air Ambulance seamlessly collaborated to reach the organ to our hospital in the shortest possible time, becoming an integral part of our ‘Healthcaring Movement’. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one who supported us in giving a fresh lease of life to the young lady.” 

MGM HEALTHCARE STRENGTHENS TOP TEAM

~ Ropes in veteran healthcare management professional, Harish Manian as CEO ~

MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of the city, today announced the appointment of Mr. Harish Manian as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Harish is a healthcare management professional with almost two decades of experience in the P&L role covering project management, operations, business transition and business development. He has worked across the healthcare ecosystem (hospitals, pharma consulting, medical technology consulting and ITES) across various geographies.

Confirming the appointment, Dr. Prashanth Rajagopalan, Director, MGM Healthcare Private Limited said, “Ever since our inception last year, MGM Healthcare has aimed to lead the movement towards early and accurate diagnosis and treatment; and to deliver deep insights by making state-of-the-art technology and next generation cure accessible and affordable to people…thus enabling better quality of life. And for this to be implemented in an organised manner, we need people with proven track record in the healthcare management space. In Harish, we see a highly business and process focused professional with a keen interest in product management and strategic business planning for new and existing hospitals. I am happy to welcome him on board at MGM Healthcare; and am confident that he will implement a range of strategic initiatives to lead MGM to our next phase of growth.”

Harish was responsible for successfully starting and turnaround of several multi-specialty Quaternary care hospitals & Medi-City Projects for Manipal Group, Fortis Healthcare & Parkway Pantai India (IHH Berhad). He has managed 2000+ beds multi-geography healthcare facilities across India. During the last decade was responsible for few landmark clinical programs in India and South Asia, including the largest Cardiac Transplant Program, largest Artificial Heart / LVAD Program, largest Lung Transplant Program and the largest Cadaver Kidney Transplant program. He was also associated with one of the world’s most prestigious and largest Liver Transplant program in India.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Harish Manian said, “In a short span of a year, MGM Healthcare has today become a force to reckon with in the region, with unmatched potential across medical specialities. I am honoured and overwhelmed to be part of this dynamic ‘Healthcaring Movement’ promoted with a positive and holistic treatment approach. I look forward to closely working with the entire team in realising MGM’s vision and mission. My primary focus will be to grow MGM to a strong position across healthcare verticals in the region and to model the desired changes for further growth and expansion.”

At MGM Healthcare, Harish will oversee the functions of Operations, Strategic Business Planning, Product Management, New Initiatives, Business Transition, Project Management, Business Development & Marketing, People Management and Talent Acquisition. All the divisional heads will be reporting in to him; and he would be directly reporting in to Dr. Prashanth Rajagopalan.