For two young women struggling to breathe, every day was a quiet battle. Years after recovering from tuberculosis, a hidden consequence had taken hold, narrowing their airways and making even the simplest acts of breathing an effort. That changed at Amrita Hospital, Kochi.
In a landmark moment for respiratory care in Kerala, Amrita Hospital has successfully performed the state’s first-ever Biodegradable Airway Stenting procedure, making it not only the first centre in Kerala, but the third in all of India to offer this advanced treatment.
What Made This Procedure So Special
The procedure treated a condition called post-tuberculosis bronchial stenosis, a narrowing of the airways that can develop long after TB has been treated. Left unaddressed, it causes chronic breathlessness, persistent cough, and a significant drop in quality of life.
What sets this treatment apart is the nature of the stents used. Unlike conventional stents that remain in the body permanently, these are biodegradable, meaning they dissolve naturally once the airway has healed, eliminating the need for additional surgeries down the line. It’s a gentler, smarter solution for patients who have already been through so much.
The bronchoscopic procedure lasted eight hours and was performed with precision by a dedicated team from Amrita’s Division of Interventional Pulmonology and Complex Airway Disorders. Both patients came out of the procedure breathing normally, a result that would have seemed out of reach just months before.
The Team Behind the Milestone
The procedure was led by Dr. Tinku Joseph, Head of Interventional Pulmonology at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, alongside Dr. Don Jose and Dr. Sreeraj Nair. Dr. Joseph noted that this achievement was made possible through the seamless coordination of expert hands and cutting-edge technology, a combination Amrita has long been committed to.
“Biodegradable airway stenting is highly effective for post-TB airway narrowing, chronic cough, phlegm accumulation, breathlessness, and similar obstructions,” Dr. Joseph shared. “Our goal is always to give patients the most effective, least invasive path back to their normal lives.”
What This Means for Patients
This milestone opens a door for patients across Kerala and the wider region who are living with airway complications following TB, a disease that remains prevalent in South Asia. With Amrita now offering this procedure, patients no longer need to travel far or go without an option that truly addresses the root of their condition.
At Amrita, every breath counts.