Max Healthcare

About: Max Healthcare is a healthcare organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 391 authors who have published 410 publications receiving 14404 citations.

Use of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Early Physiotherapy to Reduce Incidence of Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery: an Institutional Experience.

Abstract: Newer advances in breast cancer management have led to increased disease free survival and overall survival. It is important to prevent debilitating complications after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to be able to successfully translate this survival benefit to quality of life benefit. By reducing disruption of lymphatic channels, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) decreases incidence of lymphedema (LE). Initiating early physiotherapy regimens, too, improves arm symptoms. In this review, we analyze the incidence of LE at our center and compare it with western literature. Retrospective analysis of all post-surgery breast cancer 18 patients, who followed up routinely with our oncophysiotherapist, was carried out. Incidence of LE in patients undergoing SLNB or ALND was followed up for a mean period of 17.5 months. Only 3.6%, i.e., 6 patients out of 166 developed LE. Amongst 166, 80 had only SLNB; the rest had ALND (either upfront or post-positive SLNB). None of the SLNB only cohort patients developed LE. SLNB in clinically node negative axilla, followed by initiation of arm physiotherapy early in post-operative period, may reduce LE incidence in breast cancer patients.

Experts’ consensus: pharmaco-invasive therapy for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction along with focus on secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation in India

Abstract: In India, patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) tend to present with higher percentage of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Numerous existing challenges like patient unawareness, lack of structured STEMI care systems, inadequacy of promptly available facilities and unequipped ambulances for patient transport make it difficult to achieve optimal STEMI treatment. Also, due to socio-economic diversities prevailing in India, a large proportion of the entire population has access to only basic primary healthcare and are unable to afford proper medical facilities. Judicious and timely reperfusion strategy has been the mainstay of STEMI management. Even though, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to be the gold standard for treating STEMI worldwide, it is not the ideal strategy in many Indian settings, especially in villages and smaller towns/cities. In such scenarios, pharmaco-invasive approach has proved to be a better reperfusion therapeutic strategy for improving treatment outcomes and subsequently reducing morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this consensus article is to highlight the clinical perspectives of Indian cardiologists at identifying and addressing the need gaps currently existing in India for optimization of STEMI treatment approaches. The experts shared their views on the rationale of pharmaco-invasive approach and highlighted the significance of commonly used thrombolytic agents, STEMI treatment protocols, secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation.

HCQ prophylaxis in COVID-19 did not show any QTc prolongation in Healthcare workers.

Abstract: BACKGROUND HCQ is a commonly recommended drug for the prophylaxis of COVID-19. One of its rare side-effect includes QTc prolongation. METHODS This was a prospective, cross sectional and observational study conducted on Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India. A 3-lead ECG (only limb leads, it does not require chest leads) was performed. The QTc cut offs were pre decided, QTC < 470 ms for males and <480 ms for females was considered within the normal limits and anything above this was regarded as QTc prolongation. RESULTS There were 274 HCWs enrolled into the study, including 175 males and 99 females. Majority of the HCWs were young and had a mean age of 32.19 ± 9.29 years. Out of these, 218 were taking HCQ as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. The median cumulative dose being taken was 1600 mg and the median QTc of these participants was 390 ms in males and 391.5 ms in females. Subsequently, 33 participants were followed-up and found to have a median QTc of 389 ms and a cumulative dose of HCQ as 2000 mg. CONCLUSION In conclusion, ours is a first study in the middle of the pandemic which showed that HCQ prophylaxis in young HCWs without comorbidities did not show any QTc prolongation.

Role of laparoscopy in the era of robotic surgery in urology in developing countries.

Abstract: With the rapid expansion of robotic platforms in urology, there is an urgent and unmet need to review its cost and benefits in comparison to the traditional laparoscopy, especially in reference to a developing country. A nonsystematic review of the literature was conducted to compare the outcomes of pure laparoscopic and robot-assisted urologic procedures. Available literature over the past 30 years was reviewed. Robot-assisted surgery and laparoscopy were found to have similar outcomes in the areas of radical prostatectomy, partial and radical nephrectomy, radical cystectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node (LN) dissection, inguinal LN dissection, donor nephrectomy, and kidney transplantation. Robot-assisted surgery was found to be significantly costlier than pure laparoscopy. In the absence of a clear advantage of robot-assisted surgery over pure laparoscopy, lack of widespread availability and the currently prohibitive cost of robotic technology, laparoscopic urological surgery has a definite role in the developing world.

Outcomes in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for imperative vs elective indications

Abstract: OBJECTIVES To assess and compare peri-operative outcomes of patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for imperative vs elective indications. PATIENT AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a multinational database of 3802 adults who underwent RAPN for elective and imperative indications. Laparoscopic or open partial nephrectomy (PN) were excluded. Baseline data for age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score and PADUA score were examined. Patients undergoing RAPN for an imperative indication were matched to those having surgery for an elective indication using propensity scores in a 1:3 ratio. Primary outcomes included organ ischaemic time, operating time, estimated blood loss (EBL), rate of blood transfusions, Clavien-Dindo complications, conversion to radical nephrectomy (RN) and positive surgical margin (PSM) status. RESULTS After propensity-score matching for baseline variables, a total of 304 patients (76 imperative vs 228 elective indications) were included in the final analysis. No significant differences were found between groups for ischaemia time (19.9 vs 19.8 min; P = 0.94), operating time (186 vs 180 min; P = 0.55), EBL (217 vs 190 mL; P = 0.43), rate of blood transfusions (2.7% vs 3.7%; P = 0.51), or Clavien-Dindo complications (P = 0.31). A 38.6% (SD 47.9) decrease in Day-1 postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate was observed in the imperative indication group and an 11.3% (SD 45.1) decrease was observed in the elective indication group (P < 0.005). There were no recorded cases of permanent or temporary dialysis. There were no conversions to RN in the imperative group, and seven conversions (5.6%) in the elective group (P = 0.69). PSMs were seen in 1.4% (1/76) of the imperative group and in 3.3% of the elective group (7/228; P = 0.69). CONCLUSION We conclude that RAPN is feasible and safe for imperative indications and demonstrates similar outcomes to those achieved for elective indications.