Tag: Hyderabad

Health

Latest intubation techniques facilitate less complications & speedy recovery of patients: ISCCM

Nov 9, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Apollo Hospitals, #Hyderabad, #Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM)

Hyderabad: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM), Hyderabad Chapter and Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad; conducted a Difficult Airway Workshop at Apollo Health City Campus, Jubilee Hills, today. Mr. Y. Subramanyam, CEO, Central Zone, Apollo Hospitals, inaugurated the Workshop. Dr. K. Subba Reddy, Sr. Consultant and Head of Critical Care, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills and other Critical Care consultants shared their experiences in handling airway in sick patients during COVID pandemic. Over 100 Critical care and other specialists from across south India attended and learnt the latest techniques in effective endotracheal Intubation to enhance their skills in airway management.

Intubation is a lifesaving skill for all ICU physicians, where an ET (Endotracheal) tube is inserted into trachea before starting ventilator therapy for patients with low oxygen level and difficulty in breathing. The goal of the workshop was to train critical care doctors to perform intubation effectively and stabilize critical patients early, thereby enhancing the overall patient care.

The workshop dispensed knowledge on newer techniques of intubation like video laryngoscopy and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, among others. The advent of these techniques has immensely facilitated easy identification of the path to intubation by critical care specialists. They enhance the possibility to secure airway in the very first attempt without delay and helps to improve oxygen saturation quickly. These techniques significantly reduce complications associated with intubation and facilitate speedy recovery of patients. They are particularly useful in patients with facial fractures, head & neck injuries during accidents and in cancer patients involving oral cavity and needing ventilator therapy. These techniques also minimize direct exposure of patient’s oral secretions to doctor, which is critical during treatment of patients with lung infections like COVID & TB infections.

Business

Hon’ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to Inaugurate Nucleome’s NKC Centre for Genomics Research in Hyderabad

Aug 26, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Hon’ble Minister of Defence, #Hyderabad, #MD and CEO, #NKC Centre for Genomics Research, #Nucleome Informatics, #Shri Dushyant Singh Baghel, #Shri Rajnath Singh

Hon’ble Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh will inaugurate leading genomics research and solution provider Nucleome’s maiden NKC Centre for Genomics Research in Hyderabad today. Once operational, it will be South Asia’s most advanced genomics laboratory. The laboratory is being established in the memory of the late 6-time Member of the Parliament from Khandwa, Shri Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan.

Hon’ble Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh will be the Chief Guest at the inauguration, to be held at Le Meridien at 10:30 AM in the presence of Shri Dushyant Singh Baghel, MD and CEO, Nucleome Informatics. Special Guests at the event will include Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Chauhan, and Hon’ble Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof K VijayRaghavan will be the Keynote Speaker.

Other Guests of Honour at the inauguration will comprise National General Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party, Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Rajendra Gehlot and Shri Ajay Pratap Singh as well as Hon’ble Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Renu Swarup, Hon’ble Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Atul Chaturvedi, and Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of Departments of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT), Government of Telangana.

Nucleome will soon begin to provide in-house DrSeq suite of predictive genomics products in healthcare to analyse the data of RNA sequencing. The laboratory will help expand the scope of Nucleome’s in-house services with NovaSeq 6000 and GeneTitan platforms and allow seamless cross-platform services.

Health, News

Apollo Hospitals performs a complex double organ – Heart & Lung Transplantation

Jul 27, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Apollo Hospitals, #Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Padmasri awardee Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, #Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A team of doctors led by renowned Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Padmasri awardee Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale performed a rare, combined Heart and Lung transplant on 20th July 2021 to save a terminally ill twenty-five-year-old woman, Ms Labdhi Jain. The recipient was unfortunately born with congenital heart disease with a hole in her heart known as ventricular septal defect and an abnormal connection between her great arteries (Aorto-pulmonary window). Over the years, the congenital defect led to further deterioration in her health condition with increased lung pressures and leakage of heart valves. She was surviving on oxygen support at home for the last two-and-half years. Of late, she was admitted at various hospitals several times for heart failure. The transplant team at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, on evaluation found her to be in an advanced stage of heart failure coupled with increased lung pressures. The team prescribed combined Heart and Lung transplantation to save her life. She was registered under the State Government’s Jeevandan Cadaver Transplantation program and was waiting for a suitable donor.

The team faced unique challenges in this case. The recipient at the time of listing for transplant weighed only 30 kgs. Getting a suitable organ which was of appropriate in size for her was complex, as her heart cavity was small. She was helplessly waiting for a suitable organ for a prolonged period of over two and half years, with hope of finding a small sized organ diminishing by the day.

The cadaver heart and lung obtained from an eighteen-year-old girl, pronounced brain dead due to intracranial bleeding and thrombosis, aptly suited her requirement. Despite the immense sorrow of losing their child, the donor’s family displayed exemplary courage and benevolence and gave consent to harvest their braindead daughter’s organs. This humanitarian gesture on behalf of the grief-stricken loved ones brought joy back in the life of another family.

The recipient recovered well after surgery; her weight has improved to 38 kgs. She is being discharged from the hospital, freed from the burden of heart and lung disease, to enjoy life the way she deserves, and to overcome any obstacles that come her way with confident strides and a happy heart.

Health

World No Tobacco Day: Pledge together to “Commit to Quit”

May 29, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Apollo Cancer Institutes, #By Dr. P. Vijay Karan Reddy, #Consultant Radiation Oncologist, #Hyderabad

Dr. P. Vijay Karan Reddy, Consultant Radiation Oncologist,  Apollo Cancer Institutes, Hyderabad.

The problems caused by tobacco consumption were never a secret. However, the atrocities caused by COVID-19 in recent years has motivated more and more people to quit tobacco and lead a healthy life.

Tobacco causes over 8 million deaths every year. 28.6% percent of population in India, that is 1 in every 5 use smokeless tobacco and 1 in every 10 people smoke, which is a very alarming number.  In order to reduce these numbers, and to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic WHO started World No Tobacco Day and it is celebrated around the world every year on May 31.

Tobacco affects every single cell in our body and the consumers end up facing the risk of severe respiratory or heart diseases. Tobacco causes almost all cancers either directly or indirectly. It is the leading cause of lung cancer and possibly the only causative factor to cancer that has been conclusively proven- increases the risk to more than 50 percent. Other common cancers include head and neck cancers, specifically throat cancer and mouth cancer. Related to the present pandemic, smokers also have a 50% higher chance of developing severe issues due to Coronavirus disease with increased risk of hospitalization and need for a ventilator.

The silver lining is that it is preventable and in many cases the damage is reversible. So, quitting and motivating people to quit is one of the best things anyone can do to keep themselves safe and healthy.

Quitting is not an easy task. Cravings and urges for tobacco can be very powerful. However, with sheer determination and external support, one can always commit and win against the addiction. As Edith Zittler said,

“The best way to stop smoking is to just stop – no ifs, ands or butts.”

This World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched the “Commit to Quit” Campaign to help 100 million people wanting to quit. Under the campaign, they have strategized various initiatives to support people wanting to quit.

Quitting tool kit (WHO):

  1. Set a quit date – choose a date which is significant in your life like your anniversary/birthday/birthdays of family members which will motivate you to commit
  2. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers – they will be support system
  3. Remove tobacco products from your environment
  4. Lastly, the most important step – curb your cravings 

QUICK TIPS TO CURB YOUR CRAVINGS:

  1. Delay: Delay the urge by keeping yourself busy, have a lollipop/chips/gum etc
  2. Deep breathing:  Take a deep breath for 10 secs which will help you reduce your anxiety
  3. Drink water: Drink a lot of water
  4. Do something else to distract yourself: Go for a walk, watch tv, play a sport, spend time with family
  5. Pharmacotherapy – WHO recommends the use of nicotine patches and gums but they are more effective when prescribed by your doctor based on your dependence. 

Benefits of quitting:

  1. 20 min –  your heart rate drops
  2. 2 weeks upto 3 months – Your heart attack risk begins to drop Your lung function begins to improve
  3. 1 yr upto 5 yrs –  Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s
  4. 10 yrs – Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s
  5. 15 yrs  – Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker
  6. The younger the age you decide to quit, the longer your life expectancy

So let’s all join hands and strive together to a healthier life and a healthier world!

Say “no” to tobacco and “Commit to Quit”!!!

Health, News

Apollo Hospitals reports first successful use of Intravascular Lithotripsy in India in treatment of severely calcified carotid artery stenosis

Apr 29, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Apollo Health City, #Apollo Hospitals Group, #Cath Lab & Interventional Cardiology, #Dr Sangita Reddy, #Dr. P C Rath, #Hyderabad, #Intravascular Lithotripsy, #Joint Managing Director, #Sr. Consultant Cardiologist & Director

Hyderabad: Apollo Hospitals today announced the first successful use of Intravascular Lithotripsy in India to treat a 75-year-old male patient with heavily calcified carotid artery lesions.The patient, who presented with recurrent CVA (cerebrovascular accident) or strokes, was successfully treated by transcarotid arterial revascularisation (TCAR) using Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL). With only a few cases reported from USA and Italy using IVL to treat carotid artery stenosis or narrowing, the achievement by the team of doctors at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad of the first reported use of this technique in India is a milestone in carotid angioplasty and stenting procedures in the country.

Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “At Apollo Hospitals, we are always looking to set new standards of care with advanced medical technology that lets our doctors undertake challenging procedures safely and successfully. The first reported use of IVL in India to treat calcified carotid artery lesions will enable us to treat patients who cannot go in for conventional procedures. It will decrease the risk of procedural complications, providing positive clinical outcomes with reduced risk of future adverse events. It is a testament to the dedication and skill of our doctors that they have continued to focus on treating and saving lives of patients with NCDs even during the pandemic.”

Dr. P C Rath, Sr. Consultant Cardiologist & Director, Cath Lab & Interventional Cardiology, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad said, “The patient presented with recurrent strokes. Upon evaluation, he was found to have a critical stenosis involving the right internal carotid artery. There was also significant calcification of the vessel and a 180o arc of deep wall calcium. This required urgent intervention to open up the vessel since carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is responsible for around 30% of ischemic strokes.The conventional treatment option of carotid endarterectomy, that is, surgical approach to remove plaque from the artery was not recommended due to advanced age and comorbidities that included hypertension and a prior CABG (coronary artery bypass graft surgery). A direct stent implant through the minimally invasive transfemoral carotid artery stenting was also not advisable due to the severely calcified plaque that would prevent proper stent expansion with sub-optimal dilatation of the artery. It was decided to proceed with Intravascular Lithotripsy that combines the combines the calcium-disrupting potential of lithotripsy with the expertise that we hold in use of balloon catheters.”

Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL)works through generating sonic waves, which are sonic pressure waves. This is a novel use of the concept of lithotripsy, that has been safely used for decades to treat kidney stones by safely breaking up the stones. The sonic waves in IVL pass through the soft tissues of the arterial wall lining, and the pulsatile energy safely disruptsthe calcium in the plaques, creating micro-fractures in the calcium. The broken-up calcium allows expansion of the artery at low pressure thus permitting the safe implantation of a stent with minimal trauma to normal arterial tissue and improving the blood flow. The procedure is safer as the calcium fragments resulting from the IVL therapy remain in situ, with a reduced likelihood of breaking off and embolising.

Dr. P C Rath added, “A new tool called Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy that has been recently approved for the treatment of heavily calcified lesions in coronary and lower limb arteries was used to treat the heavy calcification in the carotid artery. While minimal data exists for its use in treating calcified plaques in carotid artery, we decided to proceed with IVL as the patient’s age and co-morbidites would not permit conventional treatment methods. However, the underlying calcium is known to result in suboptimal outcomes following stenting through percutaneous intervention. Aggressive post-dilatation in the carotid region often results in severe bradycardia (slowing down of heart rate) and hypotension (low blood pressure). IVLfacilitated adequate stent expansion and we were able to successfully perform the dilatation with minimal residual stenosis.

Health

Rare and complex Combined Liver and Kidney Transplant performed at Apollo Hospitals!

Apr 13, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Apollo Hospitals, #Hyderabad

Hyderabad, 13th April 2021: Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, performed a Complex Combined Liver and Kidney Transplant, using organs from two different living donors, for the first time in India. The Complex surgery was performed by Dr Manish Varma, Chief Transplant Surgeon; by Dr Ravi Andrews, Consultant Nephrologist and Dr Naveen Polavarapu, Chief Transplant Hepatologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, on a fifty-seven-year-old Tanzanian patient, Gabriel Ceaser Sisa. The uniqueness of the case was further compounded by the usage of a blood group mismatched organ, the liver. That made the task extremely perilous, but the hands-on experience and the immense expertise, the Transplant and Support Teams at Apollo Hospitals command, steered the outcome to success. The patient has since recovered and is all set to be discharged.

This case is unique, as it is the first time in our country that a multi-organ transplant has been performed using one organ that is mismatched blood group and the other organ of a matching blood group. Monitoring such patients, especially for rejection is a big challenge. As it is, blood group mismatched transplant of a single organ is a complex endeavor, undertaken only in select centers globally. It is noteworthy that the same team had performed the first mismatched blood group transplant of the city about six months ago.

Gabriel Ceaser Sisa first visited Dr Naveen Polavarapu, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad in 2017 with Liver related problems. It soon transpired that he had chronic Liver and chronic Kidney disease. Over the course of the next three years his Liver and Kidney diseases progressed despite being on active medical treatment and close monitoring. As he reached end stage Liver disease and end stage Kidney disease requiring hemodialysis, he was advised to undergo a combined liver and kidney transplant. Usually, such transplants are performed using organs from a single cadaveric donor, which avoids complications associated with multiple living donors including blood group mismatch, post-surgery donor recovery etc. In fact, rejection of the blood group mismatched organ by the recipient is very high and is an immense challenge, needing constant monitoring.

This patient being a foreign national was ineligible for a cadaveric organ in India and only Indian citizens can avail cadaver organs as per the law. The doctors had no choice but to harvest organs from two different donors from the patient’s family. Though his brother and nephew accompanied him as possible blood group matching donors for liver and kidney respectively, the brother was found medically unfit to donate either liver or kidney. The search mounted for a same blood group liver donor turned out to be futile. It was his fifty-two-year-old wife with a different blood group was the option on hand and a slice of liver was sourced from her and the twenty-nine-year-old nephew donated kidney.

He was admitted on February 9th, 2021, though preparations, administering special medicines and conducting various procedures as a part of the treatment protocol was begun three weeks ahead of surgery. The surgery, done on February 12th, 2021, took 23 hours, with three teams of surgeons operating simultaneously in three operation theatres. The kidney donor was discharged on the fourth day, liver donor on the sixth day and the recipient after sixteen days after the surgery on February 28th, 2021. The patient and both the donors are healthy and ready to fly back home.

The challenges faced by the medical team were enormous because of multiple health and procedural complications. The patient had to be prepared for blood group mismatched transplant, which required special treatment protocol. This surgery itself was a high risk because of multiple reasons like blood group mismatch, patient on dialysis, dual organ transplant and both organs from living donors, says Dr. Manish Varma, Chief Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

The expert team of doctors was supported by Dr Ravi Andrews, Consultant Nephrologist; Dr K. Soma Sekhar, Consultant Gastroenterologist; Consultant Transplant Surgeons Dr Sasidhar Reddy and Dr Rajshri; Dr Manjunath B, Consultant Anesthetist and Dr Navakanth, Consultant Intensivist, among others.

This patient has to be on regular and lifelong medicines and undergo tests at regular intervals to constantly monitor both the organs. He needs to take additional precautions from the COVID perspective too.

“This is a very rare and unique case of it’s kind particularly because of the blood group mismatch and the complex combined Liver and kidney transplant done successfully on the same patient. Even on thorough literature search by our medical team only one such case was done earlier in the world. This required meticulous planning and execution and it wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of our multidisciplinary team. We are happy to see that the patient is going back to his country safely after a successful outcome” says Dr Naveen Polavarapu, Chief Transplant Hepatologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Business World

Airtel receives CERT-IN empanelment for Cyber Security Services

Apr 1, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Ajay Chitkara, #Bharti Airtel, #Director & CEO – Airtel Business, #Hyderabad

Hyderabad, March 31, 2021: Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier communications solutions provider, has joined a select group of companies to be empanelled by Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) – India’s National Incident Response Center for cyber Incidents across India.

With this empanelment, Airtel will be able to offer its cyber security solutions to Union and State Governments as well as Public Sector entities, in addition to corporate customers. Airtel provides end-to-end managed security services to enterprise customers under Airtel Secure, which combines Airtel’s robust network security with cutting-edge solutions delivered through global partnerships.

As part of Airtel Secure, Airtel has set up a state-of-the-art Security Intelligence Centre that rates amongst the best in India with access to advanced technology and AI / ML tools to track and mitigate potential online threats. From end point protection, email protection to cloud DDOS protection and more, Airtel Secure has created the most comprehensive solutions portfolio through strategic partnerships with global leaders such as Cisco, Radware, VMWare, and Forcepoint.

Ajay Chitkara, Director & CEO – Airtel Business, said: “Airtel is trusted by over one million enterprises of all sizes. The CERT empanelment is a major milestone in our journey to becoming the preferred partner for enterprises when it comes to security, which is a top priority in today’s digitally connected world.”

Business World

Nakshatra Fashion label unveiled by Fashionpreneur Shwetha Reddy

Mar 13, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Fashion Designer, #Hyderabad, #Nakshatra, #Swetha Reddy

Hyderabad: Nakshatra, the designer studio inaugurated and label launched at the Botanical Cafe, Sriramnagar Colony in the city at Kondapur. To mark the occasion, Swetha Reddy, Fashion Designer showcased her First Annual Collection. Her collection was unveiled through a Fashion Show.

The theme for the show was uniquely different –Fusion of Wedding and Aviation.

16 models walked the ramp. 8 male and 8 female. None of them are from Modeling profession. Eight air hostesses and 8 aviation employees make were groomed to walk on the ramp. And they sported the latest collection of Shwetha Reddy.

Shwetha Reddy fashion desighner
Shwetha Reddy fashion designer

The fashion show was curated by SG Fashion. Srikanth Gatla groomed the models and Choreographed the entire fashion show.

Shwetha Reddy is the dynamic fashion designer has ten years experience. She worked with Globals as a fashion stylist and later became a Fashionpreneur. She has worked in Film industry with Shruti Hasan, Shreya and Trisha.

She has her Clientele all over India and the world.

Her aura is More into wedding designs.

Fashion need not reveal. Fashion is all about being comfort in the outfits said Shwetha Reddy.

She has a vast experience as she was more into real and practical work rather than taking designs from internet . Sources fabrics from all over and designs the best and customised outfits for her customer.

She contributes her success to her parents Meena a homemaker and her father – Megha Reddy who is into business. Her Brother is a doctor and sister a software engineer

It was really tough for shweta to take a step forward and convince her parents that fashion is also a respected field and a unique field.

Nevertheless, she has chosen the road not taken and today her parents are proud of shweta’s label launch – NAKSHATRA

Mr. VN Bharat Reddy Director Aviation of TG Advisor Aviation, Govt of AP was the Chief Guest.

Dr Sridhar Reddy Baddam, a top interventional radiologist at Apollo health city; Mr Ajay Kumar, Airworthiness Officer at Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Dr Bharath Reddy, a film star and a Doctor at Apollo among others graced the function

Business World

Hyderabad Airport, the World’s 3rd fastest-growing airport, recovers 66% of its Domestic Traffic in January 2021, the highest amongst the Big 4

Mar 9, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Hyderabad, #Laqshya Media Group, #RGIA

RGIA, Hyderabad is the World’s 3rd fastest-growing airport in the category of 15 million passengers. One of the busiest airports in the country, it’s the best-connected in south and central India. With a steady increase in the number of passengers and air traffic, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) is leading the revival of the aviation sector in India post the nationwide lockdown last year. Hyderabad Airport Media is a joint venture between the GMR Group & Laqshya Media Group.oglogo

RGIA has shown remarkable growth post the Covid-induced lockdown, which brought the aviation industry to a sudden halt. Domestic passengers recovered to 66% in January 2021 as compared to passengers in January 2020 (in comparison Delhi and Bengaluru recovered 60% of the domestic passengers and Mumbai 51% as per last year’s numbers). Number of domestic passengers has reached 10.54 lakhs in January 2021.

Domestic Air Traffic Recovery was also the fastest for Hyderabad Airport. The number of flights plying to and from Hyderabad airport has also recovered 71.45% – 328 flights per day in January 2021, as compared to 459 flights per day in January 2020.

RGIA continued to handle evacuation flights operated by various countries for their citizens and for the Vande Bharat Mission and the Air Transport Bubble agreements initiated among various countries. The airport also extended its indigenously developed digital solution of E-boarding services to international flights, becoming the first airport in India to do so.

RGIA completely changed their existing processes to keep up with safety protocols like contact-less replication of keyboards at self-check in kiosks onto one’s smart phones to help aid printing of boarding card and luggage tags in a contactless way.

As a result of RGIA’s continuous efforts for customer service and heeding to feedback to understand the needs of flyers during the COVID-19 pandemic, RGIA received Airports Council International’s (ACI) prestigious ‘Voice of Customer’ recognition.

The latest achievement coming RGIA’s way is the ACI’s ‘Airport Service Quality Award’, 2020. It recognizes RGIA as the best Airport by size and region in Asia Pacific region in its category of 15-25 million passengers per annum.

Hyderabad – the next big hub:

Vikram Hemdev, COO – Laqshya Hyderabad Airport Media Pvt Ltd (LHAMPL) said, “Hyderabad is where all the action is taking place. It has emerged as the world’s most dynamic city (dethroning Bengaluru) by claiming the top spot in the JLL City Momentum Index (CMI) 2020, a global ranking of cities. It is ranked as the best city to live and work in India; the second home to the world’s top tech giants; powering an innovation ecosystem, promoting clean energy, sustainability & a quick transition to EV, thanks to the bold reforms and proactive policies.”
The mid to premium Hatchback sales in Hyderabad is ranked 3rd, after Delhi and Bangalore; compact SUVs sales is ranked 2nd, only after Delhi.

The government plans to invest Rs. 10,000 Cr. for Pharma Manufacturing and a 19,000-acre-Hyderabad Pharma City will attract another Rs. 64,000 Cr. Hyderabad alone accounted for 20% of India’s total Pharmaceutical Exports of India in FY19-20 was $20.70 Bn.

12 New Malls are coming up in HITEC City, Secunderabad, Begumpet and Miapur by end of 2021, covering an area of 6.5 Mn sq. ft.

Hyderabad also recorded the highest increase in prices of residential spaces in Oct 2020! Hyderabad had a growth of 7% (YoY) as compared to Ahmedabad – 6% (YoY), Bengaluru – 3% (YoY), Kolkata – 3% (YoY), Pune – 2% (YoY), Greater Mumbai – 2% (YoY), Delhi NCR – 2% (YoY).

Mr. Hemdev continues, “Even from a COVID-19 perspective, Hyderabad Airport has been on the forefront of the Global Vaccine Distribution Program, thanks to their unparalleled Air Cargo handling services. Not surprising then, it clearly indicates that Hyderabad is poised to become the Next Big Hub.”

About Laqshya Media Group – Established in 1997, Laqshya is an award-winning advertising agency in India. The enterprise is identified by its unparalleled contribution to the ‘Out of Home’ advertising space. For more than two decades, the company is engaged in offering highly diversified and innovative media solutions to the who’s who in the market. Some of the clients in outdoor advertising apart from Tanishq include Maruti Suzuki, LG, ZEE Group, Vivo, Daikin, JEEP, Xiaomi, ShopperStop, Yamaha, JK Tyre, Paytm, Platinum, Godrej Properties etc. Laqshya Hyderabad Airport Media focuses on new-age media utilization and niche targeting, to grab the attention of travelers and marketers alike.

Health

‘World Glaucoma Week’ begins with the theme ‘The world is bright, save your sight’

Mar 7, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Centre for Sight, #Hyderabad, #World Glaucoma Day

Hyderabad: Centre for Sight, Hyderabad is observing the World Glaucoma Week, by hosting various awareness initiatives for Ophthalmologists, Medical Community and public, to sensitize them on this permanently blinding eye disease. Centre for Sight has also launched a state-of-the patient friendly treatment for Glaucoma, the Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation surgery, the only such facility in this part of the country, at Banjara Hills. Dr Vanita Pathak-Ray, Sr. Glaucoma Specialist, Centre for Sight & Neoretina Eyecare Institute; Dr Manoj Mathur, Sr. Glaucoma Specialist, Swarup’s & Medivision and Mr Annurod Singh, VP Operations & In-Charge South & East, CFS; were present on the occasion. Dr Mahipal Sachdev, Managing Director, Centre for Sight (CFS) Group of Hospitals; joined the proceeding online from Delhi.

Centre for Sight is leveraging the digital platform to overcome the prevailing concerns of the pandemic and is proactively organising several webinars to create awareness and educate doctors-in-training. The General Ophthalmologists are being provided an opportunity to update their knowledge and skills on Glaucoma, throughout world Glaucoma Week. On World Glaucoma Day (7th March 2021) Centre for Sight hosted a webinar with International panelists from Australia, Canada, Singapore and Bangladesh, with the topic ‘Indian dilemmas: Global Perspectives’. During World Glaucoma Week (7th-13th March) – 3 additional webinars are being conducted (9th, 11th and 13th March 2021) by Centre for Sight, with renowned national faculty and is a series titled ‘Crash course in Glaucoma Diagnosis and Medical Management.’

Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation

Centre for Sight has launched a new laser service – Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation (ELC), at its Banjara Hills facility. ELC uses a camera for the delivery of the laser. The built-in video camera (endoscope) is capable of visualising structures inside the eye, including those normally not seen, especially the one called the ciliary body. There are 60-70 of these that are present in the form of a ring. This structure produces a fluid called ‘Aqueous’, excessive production of which can raise eye pressure. The camera enables direct delivery of the laser to a few of these to reduce production of aqueous. This treatment is analogous to a ‘tap’ in the eye which is partially ‘closed’ with the laser, for control of eye pressure. The camera and the accompanying laser is introduced through a very small incision (cut) in the eye in the Operation Theatre, this enables rapid recovery of the patient when compared to the current gold standard operation called trabeculectomy. The number of post-surgery visits are also much lower and so are the side effects. Most types of glaucoma are suitable for this type of laser and can be used at any age. It is possible to combine it with modern day cataract surgery (phaco) and it only takes an additional 5-10 minutes to deliver the laser in glaucoma patients.

The new laser service comes with multiple patient friendly advantages including it being minimally invasive; eye pressure lowering is just as good as current prevailing open surgery in glaucoma; the procedure is faster, safer; complications are lower; fewer post-surgery visits and quicker recovery of vision, says Dr Vanita Pathak-Ray, Sr. Glaucoma Specialist, Centre for Sight. Worldwide every fifth Glaucoma patient is an Indian, therefore we need to see the enormity of the problem. As Glaucoma is highly prevalent in India and South East Asia, greater emphasis is needed on screening the population regularly. It is the responsibility of every individual above the age of 35 to get their eyes checked regularly, only then we can defeat this invisible disease called Glaucoma, we all need to get together to beat this invisible disease. The two varieties of Glaucoma are Open Angle Glaucoma and Angle Closure Glaucoma. Telangana has high incidence of Angle Closure Glaucoma, which impacts eyesight more severely.

Dr Mahipal Sachdev said, the Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation surgery, launched at Centre for Sight, Banjara Hills, gives unparalleled care for patients suffering from Glaucoma. Glaucoma is known as silent thief of vision as patient loses sight silently. Usually, the first line of treatment for Glaucoma patients is drugs or drops in the eye and if a person is not responding to drugs, surgery is the option. This Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation surgery, can immensely benefit the patients of Glaucoma now, worldwide studies have indicated that the laser surgery is highly efficacious, besides being faster, safer with quicker recovery of sight. This advanced care is currently restricted to Amritsar and Bangalore, now patients in Hyderabad and neighboring areas can avail and benefit from it.

Dr Manoj Mathur said, there are 65 to 70 million Glaucoma patients World over as on today, in India alone 1.2 cr., people are affected and approximately 5 lakh people in Telangana are affected by Glaucoma in Telangana alone. About 90% of the patients are not aware of they being affected by Glaucoma and therefore to create awareness about Glaucoma this awareness week is hosted. There is no known cause for Glaucoma. Among the risk factors for Glaucoma are family history of Glaucoma; associated risk factors like thyroid disorders, diabetes, hypertension; any history of eye injuries, excessive usage of steroids. The current treatment for Glaucoma only prevents further damage in the eye due to Glaucoma, there is no treatment for reversal of the damage caused by Glaucoma.

Mr Annurod Singh said, Centre for Sight provides super specialty eye care services in the region with advanced infrastructure. We have been extensively spreading information about Glaucoma, for years we are conducting educational programs and awareness campaigns across our hospitals. This year we are emphasizing on a special initiative in all our 45 hospitals across India including Hyderabad, called ‘Sibling Protect Program’ as part of which we are inviting siblings of existing Glaucoma patients to come for examination and evaluation to ensure preventive eye care from Glaucoma for them.

World Glaucoma Day

Every year the World Glaucoma Association observes the second Sunday of March as World Glaucoma Day and the week that follows is observed as the World Glaucoma Week, worldwide. The aim is to create awareness about this slow, permanently blinding disease. Glaucoma Specialists and Ophthalmologists worldwide plan special awareness activities for the community and educational activities for the medical fraternity, to achieve this objective. World Glaucoma Association releases slogans to draw attention to this disease that creeps up like a thief and takes away vision permanently. This year too, a very patient centric theme has been floated ‘The world is bright, save your sight” – as below.

Glaucoma the ‘sneak thief of sight’

Glaucoma is a name given to dozens of blinding eye conditions with one common feature – damage to the nerve in the eye (optic nerve) that gives us vision, colour vision and side vision. It is the latter that is preferentially damaged in glaucoma in a very slow manner, such that the patient does not realise in the early stages, until blindness creeps up.

So glaucoma has frequently been called the ‘sneak thief of sight’ as in the early stages of the majority of cases there are no symptoms, so patients are unable to tell if they have the disease and only an eye doctor who does specific tests for glaucoma can diagnose.

Similar to other chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, there is no cure for glaucoma, there is only control – with eyedrops (medicines), laser and surgery. So once detected lifelong monitoring is required at periodic intervals, as determined by your eye specialist. In glaucoma, permanent damage occurs and so it is unlike cataract, where recovery of vision is usual after surgery.

There is no known cause, only risk factors. Glaucoma can occur in any age group, but generally occurs with advancing age, which is one of the most important risk factors along with eye pressure. However, eye pressure may not be high in quite a few individuals. Family history of glaucoma, extreme short-sightedness, injury to eye and unsupervised use of steroids are the other important risk factors.

Estimated 12 million or 1.2 crore glaucoma patients in India (80 million worldwide); 90% undiagnosed and 3 million or 30 lakh have visual impairment (WHO criteria). Estimated 5 lakh patients in Telangana (prevalence approx. 3.5%).

Salient features of Glaucoma:

  • ·All diseases under Glaucoma are permanently blinding optic nerve disease but can be prevented if detected early
  • There is no known cause, only risk factors
  • Most patients do not realise they have the disease, as it does not produce symptoms especially in the early stages
  • Majority are treated by medication but 10% of patients may still have progressive loss of side vision despite proper treatment
  • Both, treatment and follow-up, needs to be lifelong – similar to diseases like diabetes or hypertension
  • Regular check-up with an eye doctor goes a long way in keeping this disease under control
  • Family members of patients with glaucoma are at much higher risk of developing glaucoma themselves, so should also have regular eye exam to exclude glaucoma

Therefore, for the detection of this silent disease, regular eye check-ups, every 1-2 years, after the age of 35-40 is strongly recommended and it is well within one’s right to ask one’s eye doctor about the health of theirnerve, when they go for their sight test. With your awareness and help we can beat this invisible disease.