Marengo CIMS launches a BMT and Cellular Therapy Unit for Bone Marrow Transplant

Ahmedabad: Marengo CIMS Hospital launched a state-of-the-art six-bed, HEPA-filtered, one-of-a-kind step-down Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy unit for Pre- and post-transplant Care. This unit will include positively pressured BMT rooms and will be led by one of the largest BMT Teams in the state. The doctors leading the unit at Marengo CIMS Hospital are Dr Ankit Jitani, Hematologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician, Dr Hemant Menghani, Pediatric Hematologist Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician and Dr Kaumil Patel, Consultant Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplant.

This unit will serve as a in house facility for total body irradiation and stem cell harvest. The facility is established for both Autologous (own stem cells) and allogeneic (donor stem cells) transplants with a dedicated staff trained for pediatric BMT as well. The unit is also equipped with clinical excellence in adult and pediatric transplants for all blood cancers, benign hematology diseases, pediatric solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases.

Dr Hemant Menghani, Pediatric Hematologist Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician, Marengo CIMS Hospital emphasizes that “In children, Bone Marrow Transplant offers an option to cure many diseases such as blood cancers (leukemia and lymphoma) which have relapsed or not shown response to chemotherapy. Pediatric bone marrow failure syndrome is where bone marrow has stopped making blood cells, Pediatric immunodeficiency diseases, High-risk relapsed Pediatric solid tumors as well as diseases such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease where there is abnormal blood formation and patients are either transfusion dependent or on supportive care. Pediatric patients generally tolerate the treatment of bone marrow transplant well with good success rates and it is generally agreed to do the procedure early before organ damage due to the underlying disease occurs. Pediatric transplants involve the need for a highly specialized comprehensive care team specially geared for intensive care for children and supportive care for the family and caregivers. Our center takes pride in caring for high-risk pediatric cases for bone marrow transplant as we have a very dedicated team who is efficient in providing care not only during the transplant period but during the complex post-transplant journey for the patient and the family.”

Dr Keyur Parikh, Chairman, Marengo CIMS Hospital says, “Bone Marrow Transplants (BMTs) are on a steady rise in India, with about 2,500 transplants being performed yearly. About five years ago there were only approximately 500 transplants conducted. But the recent years have witnessed a rise. Though the number of BMT centers is increasing, it is less than 10% of the actual requirement in India and it is our responsibility as healthcare providers to make treatments for blood cancers increasingly accessible through sustained awareness. Our endeavor in establishing the unit is directed towards those very goals to enhance and optimize patient outcomes.”