MGM HEALTHCARE PRESENTS THE 2ND EDITION OF TAMIL NADU DOCTORS PREMIER LEAGUE

 MGM HEALTHCARE PRESENTS THE 2ND EDITION OF TAMIL NADU DOCTORS PREMIER LEAGUE

An Exclusive Cricket League for The Doctor Fraternity

MGM Healthcare presents the Second Edition of Tamil Nadu Doctors Premier League (TNDPL) an exclusive cricket league for doctors. Marking the beginning of the 2nd edition of the league Mr. T. Natarajan, Indian Cricketer along with Dr. Prashanth Rajagopalan, Director, MGM Group unveiled the Coveted Trophy and launched the vibrant team jerseys. The Tamil Nadu Doctors Premier League will commence from 14th February 2024 and end on 18th February 2024. The league will be conducted at four different grounds across Chennai.

The Tamil Nadu Doctors Premier League is organized in collaboration with MGM Healthcare and Tamil Nadu Doctors Cricket Association (TNDCA) this year. The TNDCA is a non-profit organization started by the doctors around the state with cricket as their passion. The second edition of the TNDCA’s goal is to bring doctors from in and around Tamil Nadu to participate and compete at the highest level. This is a recreational activity for doctors who are rather busy round-the-clock taking care of others. This league will be a venue for them to nurture their passion for cricket, the event brings-in all the doctors from various cities across Tamil Nadu together.

Match Details

Over the 5 days there will be 60 matches conducted at four different venues in city. The venues are Wahe Guru Cricket Ground, Pbel Cricket Ground and Tagore Medical College grounds. There will be 3 matches conducted at each venue consisting of 20 overs every day.

There are 22 teams from across Tamil Nadu that will participate in the Tamil Nadu Doctors Premier League

1. Invincible XI

2.Medical Miracles

3.Medi Hitterz

4.CBCC Thanjavur

5.Chemco Cruisers

6.Madras Medical College Cricket Club

7.Royal strikers Chennai

8.JIPMER Cricket Club

9.UCA Medicos

10.Marina Super Docs

11.Surgical strikers

12.Vellore super kings

13.ORCC

14.Dindigul Dons

15.(XV) Mighty Medicos

16.SRMC CC

17.Madras Medicos CC

18.Pondy Strikers club

19.Trichy Tyrants

20.KDCC

21.Thillai Thunders

22.Chennai Master Blasters

The Tamil Nadu Doctors Premier League (TNDCA) will award Rs.1 Lakh for the Winners and Rs.50,000 for the runner-up of the tournament.

The event will be hoisted by Dr. Roshan Santhosham, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Doctor Premier League and Dr.N.Vignesh Karthik, Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu Doctor Premier League under the presence of Mr.T.Natarajan (Indian Cricketer), Mr. Anand Krishnan, Director, Namma Veedu Vasantha Bhavan Hotel, Dr. Ashok Sigamani (President, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association), Dr. Jayaraj (President, TNDCA)

MGM HEALTHCARE TO HOST LIVE

 MGM HEALTHCARE TO HOST LIVE
MARGAZHI PERFORMANCES IN ITS PREMISES

MGM Healthcare, a super-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of Chennai city, is gearing up to host Margazhi Season @ MGM, a two-day inaugural session in their premises. The event will see music aficionados take the stage to mesmerise listeners. Pianist Anil Srinivasan, Vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan and Percussionist Sumesh Narayan will be performing on Friday December 25, and Vocal Duo Ranjani-Gayatri and will be performing on Saturday December 26, live to a limited audience.

About the decision to host the event, Dr Prashanth Rajagopalan, Director, MGM Healthcare, says, “Year on year, we have sponsored Margazhi season at popular sabhas across the city. This year, due to the pandemic, Margazhi season has gone virtual. We took this opportunity to make our own premises a sabha of sorts. As we cannot host too many people due to government restrictions, we have decided to stream it live on Facebook and YouTube for people to watch. I invite the public to come and join us, albeit virtually, to revel in the perfect harmony of these virtuosos.”

As huge proponents of music and the soothing effect it can have, MGM Healthcare uses Music Therapy to promote emotional and physical healing in patients. Music Therapy is a form of healing that uses music to provide care to patients, in a manner that is different from the routine. Clinical studies can vouch for the health benefits of a medically-approved Music Therapy regimen. The beauty of Music Therapy is that it helps patients in a holistic manner.

The two-day musical event will be hosted at the hospital’s auditorium between 6 to 8 pm on December 25 and 26. While the auditorium can seat only a limited audience of special guests, the event will also be streamed live on the hospital’s Facebook and YouTube page.

MRI Cartilage mapping guides treatment planning in

MRI Cartilage mapping guides treatment planning in Cartilage lesions
for the young

MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of the city, announced a successful Cartilage Defect Repair Surgery performed on a young patient with Osteo Chondral defect, led by Dr Govindaraj AB, Director – Institute of Orthopaedics and his team of specialists including Dr. Shriram Krishnamoorthy, Dr J Jagdeesan and Dr Vijayakumar Sohanlal

A 32-year-old computer professional presented at MGM HealthCare with complaints of painful locking and clunking of his knee of 1-year duration was investigated and evaluated.

He had previously undergone knee ligament reconstruction surgery in the same knee seven years earlier. He was diagnosed with Chondromalacia Patella and was undergoing treatment with medications and physiotherapy. His symptoms continued to worsen until he visited MGM Healthcare where the doctors repeated the MRI scan using advanced technology of Cartilage mapping to identify and quantify the size of the Chondral defect, which was mapped over the two adjoining surfaces of the patella and femoral trochlea. 

Various treatment options including Knee cap replacement, stem cell injection and cartilage implantation were discussed before finalizing on the novel All Autologous Cartilage Regeneration (AACR). AACR is a single-stage procedure, unlike Autologous Cartilage Implantation (ACI).

Cartilage harvested from other parts of the joint using arthroscopy was processed inside the operating room. Defect prepared, the cartilage mixed with PRP (patient’s stem cell) and the defect was filled with the graft prepared using a mini-open technique. Clotting factors were used to stabilize the graft, so that it stays in the defect and regenerates into Hyaline like cartilage, unlike in Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) technique.

Commenting on the success of the surgery Dr Govindaraj AB, Director – Institute of Orthopaedics said, “The success of this surgery is commendable considering the complexity of the problem. The patient’s long and complicated case history including the previous surgery made it difficult for us to identify the problem with ease and narrow down on the procedure to fix the condition. We had to keep in mind that the patient is 32 years old which is a very young age to consider major surgical procedures such as knee replacement which could make it difficult for the patient in the long run.

After the successful surgery he is being mobilised on a knee brace to prevent knee bending for up to 6 weeks, and avoid forces that might impinge on the grafted surface.

Dollar Industries Limited Joins Hand With

Dollar Industries Limited Joins Hand With HealthGuard To Introduce

Anti - Viral Products

- Hosts An Insightful Webinar On #DontBringTheVirusHome Involving Eminent Doctors Of The Country For The Occasion -

Dollar Industries Limited one of India’s leading brands in the hosiery segment has joined hands with Australia based company, HealthGuard and curated a new range of anti-viral products. The initial range consists of anti-viral masks and innerwear for men. The safe cosmetic based chemistry of HG AMIC is 100% and skin-friendly and remains active on treated fabric achieving excellent wash performance.

“We all want to protect ourselves and our loved ones as the pandemic is considered to be the most crucial global health calamity of the century. Keeping in mind our social responsibilities, Dollar Industries Limited has joined hands with HealthGuard, an Australia-based company that is a pioneer in innovative disease prevention technology for over 25 Years and curated a new range of anti-viral products. Made from cotton and non-woven fabrics, the product range features the perfect blend of science and comfort’’, said Mr. Vinod Kumar Gupta, Managing Director, Dollar Industries Limited.

To mark the occasion, Dollar Industries organised an insightful and knowledge driven panel discussion, #DontBringTheVirusHome, on an e-platform today. Amidst the continuous battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, the brand addressed the best measures to protect oneself along with their loved one. With a primary focus on #DontBringTheVirusHome, the panel discussion consisted of eminent medical practitioners - Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Senior Vice-Chairman, Director and Head of Cardiac Surgery at Medica Superspeciality Hospital, Dr. Uttiya Deb, Clinical Pharmacologist, Burdwan Medical College, Dr. Shreevidya Venkatraman, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, MGM Healthcare, and Mr. Arindam Choudhuri, Business Head - Global, HealthGuard along with Mr Vinod Kumar Gupta, Managing Director, Dollar Industries Limited.

As the lockdown restrictions are being lifted across various parts of the country, people are now adopting the ‘New Normal’ ways of sustenance. Today’s session was all about sharing the correct information and building awareness about #DontBringTheVirusHome. The panellist shared their insights and suggestions to create an awareness among the general public about personal hygiene and how to protect themselves now onwards with the new normal concept.

During his segment, Dr. Kunal Sarkar shared great information about the much-needed vaccination and the timeline for the same. He highlighted the ongoing R&D procedures across the globe to develop the vaccine. He also explained the importance of social distancing, maintaining regular hygiene and sanitization methodology.

Dr.Shreevidya Venkatraman shared some of her valuable insights on various important precautionary measurement during unlock phases. She mentioned that though masks are becoming a part of our regular attire, where people are experimenting with designs and patterns but the right kind of mask that can be most effective during this time. She shared information about the apt choices that one should make about masks.

Dr. Uttiya Deb, shared his opinion on the ongoing unlock phase and the required need to strike a socio-economic balance, while stepping out of their houses and resuming to regular day to day activities. He pointed out that the people are sceptical and in constant panic mode about the best preventive measures that can keep them and their families safe. Though the immunity boosters have become extremely popular, he felt that the right kind of safety measures is equally important.

Joining the panel discussion, Mr. Arindam Choudhuri, Business Head - Global, HealthGuard helped the audience to understand the concept of anti-viral fibre created across various segments in the industry. With an elaborate presentation, Mr. Choudhuri shared some unique information about HealthGuard products:

·        HealthGuard® products, being globally successful since 1991, with a proven track record commercializing intelligent biotech solutions ·        HealthGuard® is the world leader in innovative disease prevention ·        Scientific  procedures  of treating fabrics and making it effective against corona virus ·        Proper   Health and safety certifications

“The lifting of lockdown may expose us to more threats than before, as glitches in social distancing may occur despite the best control measures. So, these new anti – viral masks are an effective way to keep the virus at bay. We are with the consumers and the community in these troubled times. It’s time that we take the new normal in our stride! With our new range of products hitting the markets across offline and e-commerce platforms, I continue to look at Dollar Industries Limited as a brand that is innovative, responsible and optimistic”, added Mr. Vinod Kumar Gupta.

Dollar Anti - Viral masks are priced at Rs.120 for a pack of 2pcs and the Men’s innerwear comprising of vests, briefs and trunks are priced between Rs.130 to Rs.190 and are available across the country.

Note: Dollar Anti-Viral Range ·        99.94% effective under against corona or similar viruses. ·        24x7 silent protection against deadly germs ·        Double layered super breathable fabric. ·        Reusable eco-friendly design ·        The mask fabric is chemically treated by a chemical by HealthGuard. Australia ·        Available over e-commerce platforms and offline stores

Thiru SP Balasubrahmanyam who had been admitted due to

Thiru SP Balasubrahmanyam who had been admitted due to COVID-19 at MGM Healthcare remains stable
and continues to require ventilator and ECMO support. He remains awake, responsive and his
vital parameters are satisfactory.

His current clinical condition warrants an extended stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

MEDICAL MIRACLE DURING COVID TIMES

MEDICAL MIRACLE DURING COVID TIMES – ASIA’S FIRST BILATERAL LUNG TRANSPLANT ON A COVID POSITIVE PATIENT

Despite the challenges posed during these COVID-19 times, MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of the city, became the third hospital in the world to announce the successful completion of a critical bilateral lung transplant on a COVID-19 positive patient. This is Asia’s first known lung transplant on a COVID-19 positive patient and the second lung transplant in the hospital since the lockdown began.

The transplant was led by Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan, Chairman & Director of Cardiac Sciences and Director of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program at MGM Healthcare, and his team of transplant specialists including Dr. Suresh Rao, Dr. Srinath and Dr Apar Jindal.

The transplant was performed on a 48 year old gentleman from Delhi, who was suffering from severe lung infection with COVID-19.  His lungs were severely damaged due to COVID-19 related fibrosis. He developed COVID infection on 8^th June 2020.  Only a small portion of the lungs was still functioning. As he became breathless and oxygen saturation came down he was put on ventilatory support on 20^th June 2020.  His condition continued to be worsening in spite of ventilator support, he was airlifted to MGM Healthcare from Ghaziabad on 20^th July 2020.  His lung condition continued to be worsening in spite of maximum ventilatory supportive care, and he was put on ECMO support on 25^th July 2020 for more than one month. Such patients are difficult to manage even in well-equipped ICUs.

Commenting on the procedure, Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan said, “We were initially in a dilemma when his case was referred to us. But as doctors, we are taught to prioritise the patient’s overall health over anything else. Keeping this in mind, we decided to proceed with the surgery. Here I would like to commend and thank my team of doctors and the other support staff for taking up the challenge and boldly standing by the decision to go ahead with the transplant, without thinking about the risk to their own health and safety. We are happy for the patient as the transplanted lungs are working well.”

According to Dr. Suresh Rao, as the patient’s both transplanted lungs were working well, we removed the ECMO support.  Now his clinical condition is stable.  At the same time, we accepted the heart from the same donor to another patient who was waiting for a heart transplant, thereby giving a new lease of life to two people”.

Commenting on the patient’s condition, Dr. Apar Jindal said, “On 21^st August 2020, we repeated his chest CT, but patient’s lungs were totally destroyed and had severe fibrosis.  Hence we went ahead with the bilateral lung transplant”

“While the lockdown and the phased unlocks are a much-needed moves to limit the community's chance of exposure to the Coronavirus, MGM believes that healthcaring must go on. The good news from a healthcare perspective is that despite the travel restrictions imposed by the Government, both at the Centre and State levels, medical contingency travel was never a problem if a patient and close family members followed the procedures laid down. It’s indeed a proud moment for MGM Healthcare…the long distance travel that the patient and his family decided to undertake despite the limitations is testimony to our expertise when it comes to transplants. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who played a role in ensuring that he reached us at the earliest for the next treatment steps to be expedited,” adds Dr. Prashanth Rajagopalan, Director, MGM Healthcare.

The transplant was performed on August 27, 2020. Post the transplant, the patient is doing fine in the Transplant ICU at MGM Healthcare.

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.” 

Thiru SP Balasubrahmanyam who had been admitted at

Thiru SP Balasubrahmanyam who had been admitted at MGM Healthcare due to COVID-19 continues to be on ventilator and ECMO support in ICU. His condition is currently stable. 

Our multidisciplinary team of medical experts is keeping a close watch on the vital parameters and has been constantly updating Thiru SPB's family regarding his clinical status and progress.

MGM Healthcare performs South East Asia

MGM Healthcare performs South East Asia, Middle East & Africa’s First Biventricular Berlin Heart Implantation on 3-Year-Old-Russian boy

First Time ·         Artificial Heart implantation in South East Asia and Middle East & Africa ·         Virtual collaborative effort with engineering support from teams from UK and Germany and the surgical team in India to save the life of the 3-Year-Old-Russian boy over a 7-hour long surgery

MGM Healthcare has performed a complex artificial heart implant procedure for the first time in South East Asia, Middle East & Africa involving two artificial heart pumps known as ‘Berlin Heart’ to support both the right and left side of the heart of a 3-year old Russian boy, weighing 10 kg.

The procedure was performed on 25^th May by a team led by Dr K. R. Balakrishnan, Chairman & Director of Cardiac Sciences and Director of the Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at MGM Healthcare. Other members of the team that performed the procedure, included Dr Suresh Rao K G, Co-Director - Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support and HOD – Cardiac Anaesthesia, and cardiac surgeons Dr V. Srinath and Dr S. Ganapathy, Senior Consultants, MGM Healthcare. The team has performed the largest number of mechanical circulatory device implantation for heart failure management in India.

The first of its kind, Berlin Heart Implantation was performed over a 7-hour long marathon surgery in collaboration with engineering support teams from UK and Germany guided by state-of-the-art virtual technology due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 crisis. 

Baby Lev Fedorenko suffered from a heart condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy wherein the walls of the lower chambers of the heart, called the ventricles, are too rigid to expand and receive any blood.
 

The parents of the baby flew him down to Chennai to consult with Dr K R Balakrishnan and seek possible solutions for their child’s medical condition. He was initially managed with medications for around two months, but unfortunately his condition started worsening, and he became critically unwell and required hospitalization at MGM Healthcare. He continued to deteriorate and had two episodes of cardiac arrest, where the heart stopped beating and had to be resuscitated with manual compressions for several minutes. The only option possible for such a small child was an artificial heart pump and since both the right and left side of his heart were affected, he needed two heart pumps.  Small pumps for such a small child known as Paediatric Biventricular pump are made only in Germany by a company called “Berlin Heart”.

Implantation of the “Berlin Heart” in a little child was always going to be a mammoth task. It was a challenge to fit the cannula needed for the pump inside the small chest cavity of this child. The surgery was also complicated by the fact that it was performed amidst a period of complete lockdown in the city of Chennai, at the height of COVID 19 pandemic. Additionally, managing anesthesia and surgery in such a small child wearing the mandatory personal protection equipment warranted the best of clinical expertise. Experts from multiple backgrounds and countries joined via tele-conference to support the team in Chennai, notwithstanding the physical barriers imposed by COVID-19.

This complex surgical biventricular heart implantation is the first such implant in South Asia, South East Asia and among the few in the whole of Asia stretching from the Middle East to Far East. This is also the first recorded time in the world, that this complex procedure has been done with complete virtual support.

Commenting on the treatment, Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan said, “this was a huge challenge, given the prevailing circumstances. Berlin Heart will support the circulation of this child till the heart recovers or he gets a transplant. Post implant, Lev Fedorenko was kept under observation for a few weeks. The child has recovered remarkably well and has gained weight in a very short time and has been discharged from the ICU. He is doing absolutely fine now,” added Dr. Balakrishnan.

Speaking on Berlin Heart procedure Dr Suresh Rao said “Newborns with heart failure or children suffering from severe heart insufficiency don’t really have much of a choice. A heart transplant most of the time is the only survival possibility.      The problem the doctors are facing, is that there is hardly a chance to keep their patient’s condition stable until heart transplant becomes possible. Waiting times are much too long until donor hearts become available. The demand for life-saving heart assist devices, which could bridge the time by mechanically supporting the heart function, is enormous.”

The Berlin Heart VAD consists of a plastic pump or chamber which is outside of the body. It has a blood-filled side and an air-filled side, separated by a flexible membrane. The blood-filled side of the pump is connected directly to the child’s own heart and main artery by means of two tubes or ‘cannulae’. The air-filled side of the pump is connected via a long plastic tube or ‘driveline’ to a driving unit. The driving unit of a Berlin Heart drives air into and out of the heart pump(s). As air is pulled out of the pump, the membrane separating the two sides of the pump is drawn back, pulling blood into the pump from the main pumping chamber of the child’s own heart.

Berlin Heart GmbH is the only company worldwide which develops, manufactures and distributes both implantable ventricular assist devices for patients with heart diseases. The systems INCOR^®, EXCOR^® Adult and EXCOR^® Pediatric support short- to long-term pumping function of the heart and thus present a life-saving therapy possibility for the patient. MGM Healthcare is the only hospital in South East Asia, Middle East & Africa to use this device to perform a lifesaving surgery.

LIFE-SAVING LIVER TRANSPLANTATION PERFORMED AT

LIFE-SAVING LIVER TRANSPLANTATION PERFORMED AT
MGM HEALTHCARE

~ Recipient tested COVID-19 positive at the time of surgery ~

MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of the city announced a successful living donor liver transplant with a patient who was tested positive in a COVID 19 RTPCR Test at the time of the surgery.

46 year old Mr Sakthi , a building contractor by profession is one of those fortunate  few to have a new lease of life and liver even in the wake of Corona crisis rattling the world with his sister donating a part of her liver.  His liver had been failing for the past few years as he ran from pillar to post for remedy.  To add to his miseries he developed life threatening spontaneous bacterial peritonitis .It was at this juncture that his family came to know about the liver transplant services at the MGM healthcare.

He was rushed to MGM healthcare in a critical condition in an ambulance and had crashed in the ICU.  With due precaution for COVID 19  the doctors at MGM healthcare treated him intensively and  decided that liver transplantation was the only option that could save him.  With the covid situation cadaveric transplantation was almost impractical  and he did not have much time to wait for one.  When the family realised the grave situation the sister volunteered to donate a part of her liver.

He was negative for  COVID 19  by RT PCR  twice during his evaluation. A COVID 19 RTPCR test was conducted a day before the surgery, post which the patient’s health started deteriorating badly and the doctors decided not to put a life at stake and wait for the reports of COVID 19 RTPCR  and immediately initiated the procedures for a liver transplant on 15^th June 2020 with high level of protection following the neo-normal requirements. It was during the middle of surgery that the report of COVID 19 RTPCR was available and it turned out to be false positive.  

The team led by Dr. Selvakumar Naganathan, Director - Institute of Liver Transplantation and HPB Surgery took the call and decided to proceed with the surgery to save the patient as all necessary protocols were in place in case the patient were to be tested positive.

Dr Prashant Rajagopalan, Director, MGM Healthcare Pvt. Ltd said, “We have been at crossroads before but none like this. Our Medical team responded well by taking all due necessary precaution as if treating a COVID-19 patient. It speaks volumes about our healthcare movement and our superior COVID-19 protocols. “I’m truly delighted how all this has turned out and especially more so for the recipient and their family including the donor.”

“MGM Healthcare has performed 5 living donor transplant during the pandemic period.   MGM Healthcare is one of the few centers in South India that performs Living Donor Transplantation”, he further added.

“This was probably the first time anything like this had happened, for the patient to test positive for COVID 19 RTPCR test at the time of the surgery. We were in a dilemma when we heard the news. But as doctors, since we had taken all the precautions we were able to decide easily to prioritize the health of a patient before other things. And this pushed us to take the call to proceed with the surgery despite the test reports. I would like to commend the support that my team of doctors and supporting staff gave me during this case. They boldly stood by the decision to help with the surgery regardless of their own safety which was adequately taken care of at our facility. However, we were happy for both ourselves and the patient when we learned that COVID 19 RTPCR test conducted on the patient post-surgery, during recuperation turned out to be negative,” says Dr. Selvakumar.

The recipient and donor both recovered well. The subsequent two tests on both donor and recepient were negative for COVID.The donor got discharged on the 15th postoperative day while the recipient got discharged on POD 18. Its for miracles like these, the whole MGM team aligns and pushes to deliver the very best in these though times – for every life saved makes us believe and hold onto – Hope.