This may seem like something out of a movie, but virtual surgery has just made a mark in Mumbai. 61-year-old Neena Aggarwal is patient who has started walking – after a decade- thanks to this latest advancement. Neena suffered with severe osteoarthritis which resulted in bow shaped legs, and the fact that she weighs 114 kilos, made surgery a risky option.

“Every possible balm she has applied, every possible medication she has tried and it was torture. It has actually been torture for her,” said Neena’s daughter.

Doctors decided to for virtual treatment – performing what’s known as Patient Specific Instrumentation or PSI Knee Replacement surgery – for the first time ever in Mumbai.

What happens during the PSI knee replacement surgery is that the doctor prepares an exact 3D image of the knee on the computer – and that replica helps the doctor to virtually plan for the entire surgery – so that the surgeon knows, what cuts to make, what the alignment should be like – so much so, that the implant sits perfectly on the knee (fitting the model-implant).

This surgery has only been performed in the US, Canada and England, and there are clear benefits, doctors say.

Dr Kaushal Malhan, Knee and Joint Replacement Surgeon, Fortis Hospital says, “Obviously when you are taking lesser time, when you are doing less damage to the tissues , when you are cutting less, when your planning is already done and you already know what you are going to do in theatre, in terms of what angle and placement, I think you are on surer footing, in terms of that, so probably the complications may be lesser.”

Considering one in eight knee replacements in India is unsuccessful, according to the Arthritis Foundation of India, that’s the best news for Neena, even though this sort of surgery costs about Rs 40, 000 more than traditional surgery.

Neena’s daughter says that her not just her mother, but her father is also looking forward to the surgery anxiously and has already planned a post-surgery vacation.

“My dad has already planned a trip with her he’s like, once you are out of the hospital, we are planning a trip to Goa,” said Neena’s daughter.

A team of Orthopedic Surgeons at Fortis Hospitals, Mulund led by Dr. Sachin Bhonsle, Consultant Orthopedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon, performed a complicated hip revision surgery on a 45 year old man who had a three times failed hip surgery in the previously

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Patient Mr. Vijay Joshi, age 45, underwent left hip surgery in mid 90’s. During surgery his blood vessels got severely damaged resulting into avascular necrosis which made hip replacement a necessity. (Avascular Necrosis is a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss of the blood supply to an area of bone. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses and the joint becomes arthritric).

He underwent first hip replacement in 1998. A year later he got severe hip infection due to which doctors had to perform a second hip replacement on him in 1999. The second hip worked for 4-5 yrs, but it thereby loosened out leaving his hip with severe pain.
“This case is a fine example of a very complicated hip replacement operation. Mr. Joshi’s hip had had become very fragile and brittle with a huge amount of scarring due to three previous operations in 10-15 years and needed high degree of accuracy & meticulous asepsis. I had to remove existing hip replacement as well as plates and screws already in the bone and then carefully position a brand new hip joint. It was highly challenging to perform a fourth revision without harming the bone any further and ensure we give the best result in long term to avoid further revision,” said Dr. Sachin Bhonsle

“Having undergone three surgeries before (one regular surgery and two hip replacements), I thought that a fourth correction could never be performed on my hip and I will have to lead a challenged life for the rest of my years. However, I did not lose hope,” said Mr. Vijay Joshi.

“I realized that the real reason for my misery has been a lack of treatment at the hands of right experts. Since my hip had become very fragile and vulnerable, I realized that I can no longer take a chance and will consult the best medical centre with proven expertise in the area of hips. This led me to come to Fortis Hospitals, which had a proven centre of excellence for joints. I consulted Dr. Sachin Bhonsle at the hospital, who had the experience of doing some complicated hip replacement surgeries with finesse.”
The surgery was successful with an uneventful recovery and patient was discharged after few days. Dr. Bhonsle is very optimistic that the patient will lead a normal life and will not require another revision in his lifetime.

~64 year old lady undergoes minimally invasive surgery for Colorectal cancer at Fortis Hospitals Mulund~

Fortis Hospitals Mulund recently treated a complicated case of colorectal cancer through minimally invasive surgery. At the time of the surgery, the patient had reached a critical phase where surgery was compulsorily needed to be performed.

According to Dr. Anil Heroor, Consultant Onco Surgeon Fortis Hospitals said “minimally invasive surgery is the best possible way to treat cancers in general and specifically to ones that affect the uterus and intestines”.

Case Highlights-

-    Patient suffering from severe rectal bleeding underwent treatment for piles in another city hospital which later was diagnosed as colorectal cancer at Fortis Hospitals

-    Minimally invasive surgery, safe way to treat cancers of intestines and liver

Although minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) have become common today for many illnesses, MIS is not performed on a large scale in an area like cancer.

“Right expertise is needed to treat cancer through minimally invasive approach as many oncologists are not trained for minimally invasive surgery or minimally invasive surgeons are not oncologists. Today there are very few hospitals and surgeons with the right expertise to operate cancer through a minimally invasive way. Minimally invasive surgery is safer compared to open surgery as pain is less, hospital stay is shorter and there is quicker recovery,” said Dr. Heroor.

Mrs Anuprita, 64, started experiencing PR bleeding (rectal bleeding) with severe pain. She visited her family doctor who recommended few medicines which cured the bleeding and pain following which she visited Malaysia with her family. While at Malaysia, she again experienced PR bleeding and had to come back to India to see the doctor. Family doctor recommended her to a surgeon who wrongly diagnosed it to be a case of piles and suggested surgery. She underwent surgery in October 2010.

Post surgery within two months she again experienced PR bleeding. Heavily dissatisfied from her previous experience, she started to look for the right and permanent answer to her problem. She was referred to Dr Anil Heroor at Fortis Hospital. Dr Heroor prescribed few tests to the patient that confirmed colorectal cancer.

“Anuprita was really lucky as the detection took place really on time. Had we delayed further, anything could have happened,” said Dr. Heroor.

Dr. Heroor suggested to her minimally invasive approach as the cancer was in its initial stage. Post surgery the cancer was completely removed and as a minimally invasive approach was adopted the patient was discharged within 6 days.

I am thankful to Dr Heroor who cured the cancer and ensured an easy and early recovery. The pain has stopped completely and I am confident that I’ll be able to get back to normal course of life within few weeks after the surgery. Today, technology and medical science has advanced so much and it’s amazing that a disease like colorectal cancer could be cured through minimally invasive surgery.

For the benefit of people with burn marks and scars, doctors at a private hospital here will experiment with a new treatment to develop skin from the blood cells of patients.

The new treatment called the ”Vampire Facelift”, which will make best use of the patients” own platelets, will be tried from next month at Fortis Hospital on persons seeking long-lasting and younger looking skin.

“This is called Vampire Facelift because we will use the patient”s own blood to give them a long lasting and beautiful skin. The blood will be collected from the patient and platelets will be extracted from it which will later be injected into their skin,” Dr Ajay Kashyap, senior consultant cosmetic surgeon, Fortis Hospital said.

Any tissue damage in the body gets repaired because of the growth factors released by platelets. They collect at the site of injury and also produce gel-like material which hold the growth factors in place until healing takes place. They also stimulate stem cells which can develop into whatever cell type is required to repair the injury, he said.
“In order to give a new appearance to the face, we utilise the growth of the platelets in planned areas of the face. Platelets are already being used by physicians for diverse treatments like growing bone and fostering dental regrowth,” he said.
“Every now and then new techniques are being tried to give patients the best treatment that has long lasting effect.
Vampire facelift is one of them. We have not tried it yet,” a cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive specialist with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said.
Dr Kashyap said, “Human blood has good regenerative properties. What could be better for a patient than to use his or her own body extracts instead of utilising artificial substances.” PTI SWT ACB

source : MSN

Combining medical excellence, courage to conquer and fight against cancer and faith to bring a new life to this world, Fortis Cancer Institute successfully treats a Nigerian lady of her breast cancer during pregnancy. 26 year old John Kalzi who was diagnosed of breast cancer on her 6th month underwent complete cancer treatment and delivered a normal baby.

Ms John Kalzi found a lump in her breast and later a biopsy at Nigeria confirmed she was suffering from breast cancer. Knowing about a cancer screening camp organized by Fortis Hospitals Ms Kalzi decided to go to the camp to consult the specialist for a second opinion. Dr. Arun Bhel, Consultant Onco Surgeon who evaluated Kalzi confirmed her of breast cancer (right breast) and she advised her to undergo surgery.

Dr. Arun Bhel, Consultant Onco Surgeon Fortis Hospitals said “In view of the pregnancy being in the 6th month with associated Breast cancer there was a dilemma as to how to treat her and save the baby at the same time. We suggested her for a removal of cancerous tumor. We also informed that all attempts will be made not only to treat the cancer but also to try and protect the baby. After understanding her condition and need to get treated as early as possible, Kalzi decided to come to Fortis Cancer Institute for further treatment.”

Kalzi was screened by a team of specialists at Fortis Cancer Institute and a treatment strategy was further planned. Utmost care was taken to protect the baby during evaluation and protect the fetus from any sort of radiation. She underwent a mastectomy whereby her right breast which was affected of cancerous tumor was removed.

After the mastectomy Kalzi was put on chemotherapy for further treatment. As Dr. Boman Dhabar, Medical Oncologist, Fortis Cancer Institute elaborates, “Since Ms Kalzi was pregnant it was decided to give inj cyclophosphamide & inj Adriamycin which was found be safe while chemotherapy during pregnancy (as they do not cross the placenta) and gave her 4 cycle of chemotherapy (spread over 21days).”

Dr. Atul Ganatra, Gynaecologist at Fortis Hospitals was actively involved in the process of treating Kalzi. She delivered a normal Baby boy (weighing 3.5 Kg) on 29th Sep 2010. Kalzi was not advised for breast feeding as chemotheraphy drugs could affect the baby.

Dr. Atul Ganatra, Gynaecologist, “Patient was given Epidural Anesthesia (painless delivery injection) to make the process painless as she had suffered a lot of mental and physical trauma for breast cancer and its treatment”

Ms John Kalzi narrates, “I was worried and reluctant initially as I thought chemotherapy could affect my child. But the doctors assured me that they will take extra care while treating me. I trusted the team of doctors and they helped me deliver a normal baby boy. I and my family were so overwhelmed that we decided to name the baby as “Miracle”. I heartily thank the whole team of Fortis doctors to give me the happiness of having Miracle in my life and conquering cancer with faith.”

Post delivery after 2 weeks Ms Kalzi was again given a 4 cycle of chemotherapy and is now undergoing radiation.