In a significant medical achievement for coastal Karnataka, Yenepoya Specialty Hospital in Kodialbail, Mangaluru, has successfully performed two complex bone marrow transplants. This milestone marks the hospital's advanced capabilities in sophisticated haematological procedures.
A Team Effort Behind the Success
The transplants were led by Dr. Rajesh Krishna, a consultant haematologist and bone marrow transplant specialist. He was supported by a dedicated team including Dr. Priya Naik, intensivist; Dr. Vidya Kamath, chief of the Yenepoya Blood Centre; Apheresis Technologist Raziya; Rosina; along with staff nurses and allied health professionals. This success follows significant investments in developing infrastructure for advanced treatments like bone marrow transplants and genetically engineered cellular therapies, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Details of the Two Transplant Procedures
The first procedure was an autologous bone marrow transplant for a patient suffering from relapsed lymphoma. The process began with a painless stem cell harvest using a technique called apheresis, which requires no open surgery. The patient then underwent six days of chemotherapy to eliminate cancer cells, a process that also destroys the body's existing stem cells. Following this, the previously collected stem cells were reinfused. The bone marrow took about two weeks to regenerate. The team managed minor complications like infections and diarrhoea promptly. The patient received special irradiated blood products during recovery and was successfully discharged two weeks after the transplant.
The second patient was treated for amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma. This transplant also concluded successfully. The protocol differed slightly, involving a single high dose of chemotherapy called melphalan. The patient experienced manageable complications such as infection and fatigue and was also discharged successfully post-procedure.
Future-Ready for Advanced Treatments
The hospital's centre is now prepared to conduct allogeneic transplants, where stem cells are collected from a matched donor. This procedure is vital for treating cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma. For the donor, the process is painless and complication-free, involving no surgery. Furthermore, the facility is geared up for Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. This cutting-edge treatment involves collecting a patient's own white blood cells (lymphocytes), genetically engineering them to become potent cancer fighters, and then reinfusing them into the patient's body.
These successful cases at Yenepoya Specialty Hospital highlight the growing access to advanced, life-saving haematological care in the region, reducing the need for patients to travel to major metropolitan cities for such complex treatments.
