The collaboration, formalized through a long-term acollaboration agreement, reinforces the commitment of both institutions by provisioning Mount Sinai’ssupport to the Ramaiah Memorial Hospitaltofurther advancethe development of itsclinical competencies and centers of excellence in a host of select specialty areas, including, but not limited to, Oncology, cardiology,Neurosciences, Urology-Nephrology, and other Clinical Specialties.

A key component of the Ramaiah-Mount Sinai collaboration will include the periodic review of Ramaiah’s complex clinical cases by both Ramaiah’s and Mount Sinai’s top clinical experts across various clinical specialties to assist Ramaiah in identifying the best treatment options for patients.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Dr.M. R. Jayaram, Chairman – Gokula Education Foundationshared, “At Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, we are excited to announce thissignificant collaboration with Mount Sinai in New York which is aimed to advance clinical excellence, enhance patient care, safety, quality, further medical innovation and technology, and take the standard of the overall healthcare offerings to the next level.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Szabi Dorotovics, President of Mount Sinai Internationalsaid, “It is in the spirit of Kempegowda – the founder of Bengaluru – who, to this day, is remembered for enabling the citizens of Bengaluru enhance their development and prosperity, that Mount Sinai and the Ramaiah Memorial Hospital have now forged our long-term collaboration and partnership. Together, we seek to provide the citizens of Bengaluru, and the State of Karnataka, with the highest international standards of healthcare to enhance their wellness, and thereby, their prosperity.”

Dr. David L. Reich, President – Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens, speaking on the occasion mentioned emphasized that “The pairing of Mount Sinai with the Ramaiah Memorial Hospital is an ideal partnership combining two leading institutions with long histories that are dedicated to medical education, clinical innovation, and an unwavering focus on providing world-class healthcare services to their patients. In the coming years of our collaboration, it will be my honor to facilitate Ramaiah’s access to Mount Sinai’s clinical and management expertise and best-practices, and I look forward to our continuously-evolving mutual engagement.”

Ramaiah Memorial Hospital and Mount Sinai look forward to a fruitful collaboration that will set new benchmarks in healthcare delivery and positively impact the lives of patients in India and in the sub-continent.

Shri M R Sreenivasa Murthy, Chief Executive, Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) said, “Our commitment to clinical excellence is a testament to our continuous strive to improve and innovate. We invest in the latest technology and techniques to ensure that our patients have access to the most advanced treatments available, and we are constantly working to improve our processes and procedures to deliver better outcomes for our patients. The collaboration with Mount Sinai in New York is a step towards taking this commitment further for the benefit of our patients and the clinical fraternity.”

Dr SC Nagendra Swamy, President – Ramaiah Memorial Hospital,emphasized the hospital’s dedication to clinical excellence and continuous improvement, stating, “With our strategic collaboration with Mount Sinai Hospital New York, our offerings as a leading healthcare provider in the region will be compounded manifolds and will open doors forproviding patient care, safety and quality excellence along with possible medical research for our clinicians as well as to learn and acquire the latest clinical exposures from the best minds at Mount Sinai via virtual webinars, workshops and on-site case reviews/discussions as part of the collaboration initiative. Ramaiah is committed to empowering its team of healthcare professionals through advanced training programs, workshops, and access to the latest medical research, knowledge, techniques and technologies.”

ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಎಕ್ಸ್ರೇಡಿವೈಸ್ಒಂದೇಸಿಟ್ಟಿಂಗ್ನಲ್ಲಿಶಸ್ತ್ರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯನೇರವಾಗಿ ಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಗೆಡ್ಡೆಗಳನ್ನುತಲುಪುತ್ತವೆ. ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿ ಒಂದು ವಿಕಿರಣಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯಾಗಿ ಅನೇಕವಾರಗಳನಂತರ ಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕವಿಕಿರಣಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯನ್ನುಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿಸಹಾಯಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದನ್ನುನೇರವಾಗಿಸಿಂಗಲ್ಡೋಸ್ನಲ್ಲಿಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಗೆಡ್ಡೆಗೆನೇರವಾಗಿನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಗೆಡ್ಡೆಯಶಸ್ತ್ರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆನಂತರಗಾಯವನ್ನುಮುಚ್ಚುವಮೊದಲುಶಸ್ತ್ರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿಅದೇರೋಗಿಗೆನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಇದುಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕರೇಡಿಯೇಷನ್ಥೆರಪಿಗಿಂತವಿಭಿನ್ನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನುರೋಗಿಯುಶಸ್ತ್ರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯುಂದಗುಣಮುಖಗೊಂಡನಂತರನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿ ಒಂದು ಕಾರ್ಯವಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಶಸ್ತçಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರದೇಶವುತೆರೆದಿರುವಾಗಗೆಡ್ಡೆಯಹಾಸಿಗೆಗೆವಿಕಿರಣವನ್ನುತಲುಪಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದುರೇಡಿಯೇಷನ್ನಿಂದಾಗಿವಿಕಿರಣಬೇರೆಕಡೆಗೆಹರಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದನ್ನುತಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ.

ಆಮೂಲಕಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತಲಆರೋಗ್ಯಕರವಾದಅಂಗಾ0ಶಗಳಿಗೆತೊಂದರೆಯಾಗದ0ತೆನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ. ಶಸ್ತ್ರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತೆಗೆದುಹಾಕಲುಕಷ್ಟಕರವಾದ ಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ನೀಡಲು ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿ ಸಹಕಾರಿಯಗಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕನಿಷ್ಠಪ್ರಮಾಣದಕಾಣದಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಗೆಡ್ಡೆಯಶಸ್ತ್ರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯೆಗೆಸಹಾಯಕಾರಿಯಾಗಲಿದೆ.

ಈ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯನ್ನು ರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಇನ್ಸ್ಟಿಟ್ಯೂಟ್ ಆಫ್ಆನ್ಕೋಸೈನ್ಸಸ್ನ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಡಾ.ಕೆ.ಹರೀಶ್ಮತ್ತುಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥ ಮತ್ ತುಹಿರಿಯ ಆಪ್ತಸಹಾಯಕ ಡಾ.ಎ.ಎಸ್. ಕೀರ್ತಿಕೌಶಿಕ್ಮುನ್ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸರ್ಜಿಕಲ್ ಅಂಡ್ರೇಡಿಯೇಷನ್ತಂಡ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿ ಮೂಲಕಎರಡುಸ್ತನಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಯನ್ನುಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈಎರಡು ಪ್ರಕರಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಮಯ್ಯಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಪರಿವರ್ತಕಪರಿಣಾಮವನ್ನು ನಾವುಕಾಣಲುಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

೫೫ವರ್ಷದಮಹಿಳೆಕಾರ್ನಿಕೋಮಾಸ್ತನಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ನಿಂದ೨ನೇಹಂತದಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ನಿಂದಬಳಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಇವರುಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಗೆಒಳಗಾದರು. ಇದುಬೂಸ್ಟ್ಡೋಸ್ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ೪೯ವರ್ಷಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ ಮಹಿಳೆ ಕೂಡಸ್ತನಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ನಿಂದಬಳಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ೨ನೇಹಂತವನ್ನುತಲುಪಿದ್ದರು. ಇವರಿಗೂಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆನೀಡಿದ್ದು, ಇದುಯಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಬೇರೆ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಅಂಗಾAಶಗಳಿಗೆಹಾನಿಯಾಗಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದುತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.

• ಇತರೆರೇಡಿಯೇಷನ್ಥೆರಪಿಗಿಂತಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಯಅನುಕೂಲಗಳು
• ನಿಖರವಾದಡೋಸ್ವಿತರಣೆ: ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಗೆಡ್ಡೆಯನಿಖರವಾದಸ್ಥಳೀಕರಣಮತ್ತುಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಅಂಗಾ0ಶಗಳನ್ನುರಕ್ಷಿಸುವಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವನ್ನುಅನುಮತಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.
• ಮರುವಿಕರಿಣ: ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಅನ್ನುಮರುವಿಕಿರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿಬಳಸಹುದು. ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿಕೆಲವುಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗದಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲೂಬಳಸಬಹುದು.
• ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಕಾಅನುಪಾತ: ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಅಂಗಾAಶತೊಡಕುಗಳನ್ನುಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸದೆಯೇಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಹೆಚ್ಚಿನಪ್ರಮಾಣದವಿಕಿರಣವನ್ನುನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ.
• ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಅಂಗಾ0ಶಗಳಉಳಿಸುವಿಕೆ: ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಅಂಗಾAಶಗಳಾದಹೃದಯಮತ್ತುಶ್ವಾಸಕೋಶವನ್ನುಬೇರ್ಪಡಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದುಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಾವಿಧಾನಕ್ಕಿಂತವಿಭಿನ್ನವಾಗಿದೆ.
• ಸುಧಾರಿತಜೀವನಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ- ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿಜೀವನದಗುಣಮಟ್ಟವನ್ನುಸುಧಾರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.
• ಕಡಿಮೆವೆಚ್ಚ
• ಸಮಯವ್ಯರ್ಥಮಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
• ಕಡಿಮೆಅಪಾಯಮತ್ತುಅಡ್ಡಪರಿಣಾಮವಿಲ್ಲ

ಈಕುರಿತುಮಾತನಾಡಿದಗೋಕುಲಎಜುಕೇಷನ್ಫೌಂಡೇಷನ್(ಮೆಡಿಕಲ್) ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷಡಾ.ಎಂ.ಆರ್.ಜಯರಾ0, ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಕ್ಲಿನಿಕಲ್ಎ ಕ್ಸ್ಪಾರ್ಟ್ಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಗುಣಪಡಿಸುವ ಅದ್ಭುತಸಾಧನೆಯನ್ನುಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ರೋಗಿಗಳಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿರು ವಕೌಶಲ್ಯಭರಿತನುರಿತವೈದ್ಯರ ತಂಡ ಉತ್ತಮ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆನೀಡಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಭರವಸೆವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

ಗೋಕುಲ ಎಜುಕೇಷನ್ಫೌಂಡೇಷನ್ಮುಖ್ಯಕಾರ್ಯಕಾರಿ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಎಂ.ಆರ್.ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅವರು ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ನಮ್ಮ ವೈದ್ಯರ ತಂಡಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ರೋಗಿಗಳ ಜೀವಿತಾವಧಿಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುವನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿಸಾಕಷ್ಟುಸಂಶೋಧನೆಕೈಗೊಂಡುಹೊಸವಿಧಾನವನ್ನುಪತ್ತೆಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದುಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ರೋಗಿಗಳಿಗೆಉತ್ತಮವಾಗಿಕೆಲಸಮಾಡಲಿದೆಎಂದರು.

ರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಸ್ಮಾರಕ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷಡಾ.ಎಸ್.ಸಿ.ನಾಗೇಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ನಾವುಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಾವಿಧಾನದಲ್ಲಿನೂತನತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನುಪರಿಚಯಿಸಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಐಒಆರ್ಟಿ ಎಕ್ಸ್ರೇಡಿವೈಸ್ಪರಿಚಯಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಇದು ಕ್ಯಾನ್ಸರ್ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಾ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ ನುಸುಧಾರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಮುಂದಿನದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಔಷಧಿಗಳನ್ನುಸಹಕಡಿಮೆಮಾಡಲಿದೆಎಂದರು. ಈ ಸುದ್ದಿಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಡಾ.ಕೆ.ಹರೀಶ್, ಸಿಒಎಫ್ಡಾ.ಮದನ್ಗಾಯಕ್ವಾಡ್, ಇತರೆವೈದ್ಯರಾದಡಾ.ಕೀರ್ತಿಕೌಶಿಕ್ಇತರರು ಇದ್ದರು.

IORT as a radiation therapy aids in replacing multiple weeks of post-surgery traditional radiation therapy. IORT is administered in a single dose directly at the tumor site and given at the same time as the surgery after excision of the tumor and before wound closure.

Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which is delivered after a patient has recovered from surgery, IORT as a procedure involves delivering radiation to the tumor bed while the area is exposed during surgery. This helps in minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. IORT is also helpful in treating cancers that are difficult to remove during surgery and when there is a concern that minimal amounts of unseen cancer might still remain post-surgical excision of a tumor.

Led by Dr. K Harish, Director, Ramaiah Institute of Oncosciences and Dr. Kirthi Koushik A S, HOD and Senior Consultant Department of Radiation Oncology, Ramaiah Institute of Oncosciences under Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, the surgical and radiation team performed breast conservation surgery and IORT procedures on two breast cancer patients. In these two cases, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital demonstrated the transformative impact of IORT.

A 55-year-old female diagnosed with Carcinoma Breast Stage IIA left breast cancer, underwent surgery followed by intraoperative radiation therapy by employing the innovative IORT X-Ray Therapy machine, wherein a boost dose of 10 Gy in five fractions was precisely delivered to the lumpectomy cavity during surgery, ensuring targeted radiation treatment. Similarly, another patient, a 49-year-old lady from rural Bengaluru diagnosed with Stage IIA left breast cancer, received BCS with IORT boost radiation to the lumpectomy cavity. Both cases underscore the significance of IORT in providing immediate and accurate radiation therapy during surgery, potentially enhancing outcomes for early-stage breast cancer patients while minimizing post-operative recovery periods.

Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy has several benefits over other radiation therapies. Precise dose delivery: IORT allows for precise localization of the tumor bed and the shield normal tissues. ability to Re-irradiation: IORT can be used for re-irradiation, especially in cases where EBRT may not be possible. Therapeutic ratio: IORT can deliver higher doses of radiation without increasing normal tissue complications. Sparing of normal tissues: IORT spares normal tissues, such as the heart and lungs, and nearby organs receive less exposure to radiation than in traditional radiation therapy. Improved quality of life: IORT can improve quality of life.

Patient convenience: IORT is convenient for patients. Lower costs: IORT costs significantly less than external beam radiotherapy. Saves time: IORT saves time because the entire therapeutic dose of breast radiation is given immediately at the time of lumpectomy.

Fewer treatment sessions: IORT offers fewer treatment sessions. Less damage to surrounding tissues: IORT offers less damage to surrounding tissues. Lower risk of side effects: IORT offers a lower risk of side effects, including rashes and skin irritation, than are commonly experienced during traditional radiation therapy. IORT is used in a wide variety of sites such as breast cancers, locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer, retroperitoneal sarcomas, soft tissue sarcomas, pancreatic cancer, gynecological cancers, and genito-urinary cancers.

Dr M.R. Jayaram, Chairman, Gokula Education Foundation & Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) stated as he expressed his happiness, “It is indeed a moment of pride for Ramaiah Memorial Hospital that our clinical experts have achieved such a marvelous feat in cancer care. With cancer cases on the rise, I am sure that our skilled teams of experts will provide the best treatment to every patient and ensure an excellent continuum of care.”

M.R. Sreenivasa Murthy, Chief Executive, Gokula Education Foundation & Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) shared his delight on the advanced technology and clinical excellence that Ramaiah Institute of Oncosciences offers to its patients, “It is indeed a significant achievement for Ramaiah to have all the advanced devices required for Radiation Oncology, which has definitely set us apart. With such skilled doctors, technicians and nursing team, I am hopeful that we will continue to make more breakthroughs in cancer care and ensure better patient outcomes.”

Dr SC Nagendra Swamy, President, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital expressed his enthusiasm on the new technology, “We are thrilled to introduce Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy (IORT) X-Ray device at our facility. IORT improves quality of cancer treatment with unprecedented precision and comfort, solidifying our commitment to delivering cutting-edge healthcare innovations that truly redefine the future of medicine. Ramaiah Institute of Oncosciences, a Centre of Clinical Excellence within Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, provides a variety of facilities to achieve individualized and holistic care to each patient. We have a spectrum of experienced specialists in different branches of the oncology field like radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, hemato-oncology, bone marrow transplantation and nuclear medicine. This specialised expertise and the presence of a multidisciplinary tumor board ensures precision treatment and best clinical outcomes.”

Dr K Harish, Director Ramaiah Institute of Oncosciences, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital further added, “It is important that in cancer treatment, we, as specialists in this field, ensure that no amount of cancer cells in the tumor bed are left behind to avoid any incidences of recurrence. Not only IORT but our Ramaiah Institute of Oncosciences is equipped with the best of the technologically advanced treatment devices, highly skilled and trained oncosciences physicians and surgeons with multitude of experience in treating the most complex cancer cases with excellent patient outcomes over the years. We look forward to achieving many more such feats in near future.”

Dr Madan Gaekwad, Chief Operating Officer, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, shared, “For any healthcare institute to provide an optimal level of care to every patient, it is important to be equipped with the finest clinical team along with the best-in-class facility and advanced technologies. We, at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, are delighted to have all the advanced technologies necessary to provide the best treatment and care to our cancer patients. I am sure we will continue to offer our best in the time to come.” Dr. Kirthi Koushik, HOD & Senior Consultant Department of Radiation Oncology, Ramaiah Institute of

Oncosciences, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, emphasized the collaborative effort of the expert team of doctors and surgeons, stating, “The success of every cancer treatment is a testament to patients’ trust in our expert team, who have collaboratively contributed to the success of these IORT surgeries performed in the hospital. These recent cases vividly demonstrate how IORT, combined with breast conservation surgery, offers precise and effective treatment for early-stage breast cancer patients, reducing the need for prolonged radiation therapy and enhancing patient outcomes.”

IORT emerges as a promising option for select breast cancer cases, offering radiation therapy in tandem during surgery and minimizing the need for prolonged external beam radiation therapy. With their multidisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art technology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital reaffirms its commitment to providing individualized and holistic care to cancer patients, marking a significant advancement in India’s healthcare landscape.

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