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1st Stem Cell Transplant for Traumatic Brain Injury

The patient (in the wheelchair) with the medical team

Bangalore-based BGS Global Hospitals successfully performed stem cell therapy for a patient with traumatic brain injury with success. The stem cells were transplanted to the brain of the patient through a burrhole with navigation assisted surgery. The surgery was performed by a team of neurosurgeons headed by Dr NK Venkataramana.

Said Dr NK Venkataramana, Chief Neurosurgeon and Vice-Chairman, BGS Global Hospitals, "We are happy to present an anecdotal example of a patient with severe brain injury being treated with stem cell therapy, a landmark achievement. The result is of the patient improving from a condition of altered sensorium, severe cognitive dysfunction and no movement of limbs to fully conscious with full memory gain, communicating and purposive movement of the limbs." The patient was brought unconscious to BGS Global Hospitals with severe traumatic brain injury after a road accident and on first examination given only a 20 per cent chance of survival. "Being a young girl with severe disability and not showing any improvement with all available

treatment modalities, the possibility of stem cell therapy was considered. The family after several discussions and deliberations were willing to try this therapy," added Dr Venkataramana. According to him, this is an eye opener that there is a possibility of reactivating brain cells following injury with very gratifying clinical results. “To our knowledge, such attempts were made only in China. We need to understand a lot more about the stem cell therapy in head injuries. Therefore, we wish to conduct a pilot study at BGS Global Hospitals to understand the unanswered questions in the treatment of head injuries with stem cells,” he added.

EH News Bureau