Hyderabad, July 22: In a big relief to people suffering from liver cancers, the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) has introduced the use of radio frequency in the resection of liver tumours.
Dr. Nagy Habib, a world-renowned professor of surgery at the Imperial College of London, UK, today operated on three patients at the AIG adopting the technique.
He resected big tumours using Habib4X knife which is used to cut tumours without causing bleeding. One of the patients is a 34yearold woman who developed a big tumour due to long-term use of contraceptive pills.
“Using the old technique, we could save only 10 per cent of the patients but by using this latest technique we will be able to save 90 per cent of the patients,” said Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, hospital chairman and chief of gastroenterology. The technique facilitates removal of big-size tumours.’
The institute has signed an agreement with the Imperial College of London for transfer of technology in the use of stem cells in treating bile duct cancer through endoscopy and RF technology and transfer of technology in injecting stem cells into liver to treat liver failures.
When it materialises in a month, AIG will become one of the five or six institutes in the world which treat liver failures using stem cells.
In acute liver failure cases, stem cells are injected into liver which, in turn, will regenerate fully in three weeks.
Compared to liver transplantation which costs about Rs 20 lakh, the success rate of which also depends on the compatibility and acceptability of the receiver, stem cell treatment costs just about Rs 1.5 lakh and no harm is involved.
“In India 30 per cent people are suffering from gastro-related problems and it is the most neglected area in the country. Our aim is not only innovation in the field but also a decrease in the cost of treatment,” Dr Reddy said.
Dr Habib explained that stem cells could also be used in the cases of stroke, spinal chord-related problems and brain diseases for which clinical trials are on.
Dr GV Rao, chief of GI surgery, Dr Madhav Pai, assistant to Dr Habib, were present.
–Agencies