Apollo Hospitals Group reaffirms its position as worlds leading center of medical excellence
Successfully performs a combination Bypass Surgery on the worldÂ’s youngest patient suffering from Hyperlipidemia
(PRWEB) September 12, 2002
New Delhi, September 10, 2002: In a development that again brings to the fore previous research findings suggesting an increased predisposition of Indians to cardiac ailments, the cardiac team at DelhiÂ’s Apollo Hospitals has performed a milestone surgery on a 17-year-old boy. The surgery, which involved a combination procedure of a Bypass Surgery and Valve Replacement, is historic in being the first conducted on such a young patient suffering from Familial Hyperlipidemia anywhere in the world. In a related development last year, the younger brother of the patient had become a part of medical history in being the youngest Indian patient at age 12 to undergo a Bypass Surgery. The procedure was performed by the same team at Apollo and he celebrates the first anniversary of his new lease of life.
Mukesh and Rajesh Kumar, sons of Air Force Sergeant D. C. Katheria, suffer from a rare cardiac ailment known as Familial Hyperlipidemia, a disease in which the body, unable to detect cholesterol buildup, keeps accumulating it causing severe coronary artery damage. While an immediate bypass surgery is the only lifesaving option available, the patient has to undergo a liver transplant for a permanent treatment.
Dr. K. S. Reddy, Coordinator of the Initiative for Cardiovascular Health Research in Developing Countries, WHO addressed a gathering of media and eminent cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. Also present were Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr. G. K. Mani and Dr. (Col.) V. Hariharan who were a part of Indraprastha Apollo HospitalÂ’s operating team. The speakers gave details on the case and also talked about a possible trend of younger Indians falling prey to serious cardiac ailments.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. K. S. Reddy said, “Over the last 20 years, many studies from several countries have highlighted the excess risk of heart attacks among Indians. Not only is there an excess of deaths due to CVD, but these also occur early among Indians. Nearly 53% of all CVD related deaths in India in 1990 occurred below 70 years of age, compared to only 22% in the industrial countries.”
He further said, “In view of the increased susceptibility, the reasons for which are not yet fully identified, Indians need to be much more careful about their diet, physical activity, body weight and avoidance of tobacco.”
Adding to him, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy said, “Apollo Hospitals has now conducted over 45,000 cardiac surgeries. We are now initiating a Genetic Research to identify possible genetic predisposition of Indian children to cardiac ailments. The results will offer a better understanding of the trend and may also help in formulating effective Gene Therapies to tackle the disorders”
While recent global studies have established a greater susceptibility of Indians to cardiac ailments, the two recent cases point towards a disturbing trend of Indians of younger age groups reporting serious cardiac disorders. To identify a possible genetic cause of cardiac ailments in children, the Apollo Hospitals Group is also initiating a Genetic Research using samples from the two patients. A natural predisposition towards such ailments highlights a critical role that education, awareness and prevention must play to counter this trend.
Specialists at the conference today were unanimous in suggesting a change in traditional lifestyles lead by most Indians to counter this natural disadvantage. They were also upbeat about the Genetic Research proposed by Apollo Hospitals Group that may not only establish a genetic link to such rare diseases, but also aid in evolving Gene Therapies that can prevent cardiac damage.
Till that time, only a combination of preventive lifestyle on the one hand and early detection and treatment on the other can keep mortality figures in control.
