UP hospital claims lab-grown cell therapy used for urethral stricture treatment

A 30-year-old man from Lucknow has undergone a novel treatment for urethral stricture using lab-grown cells, marking what a local hospital claims is the first such procedure in Uttar Pradesh. The patient suffered from a three-centimetre-long bulbar urethral stricture, a condition characterised by a narrowing of the urinary passage. According to medical professionals involved, the innovative approach offers a less invasive option compared to traditional treatments for select cases. The procedure took place at Apollomedics Hospital in Lucknow, where doctors have stated that the cell-based technique can serve as a minimally invasive alternative to conventional methods. Traditionally, patients with similar conditions might undergo buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty, involving tissue harvested from the inside of the cheek, or endoscopic urethrotomy, which poses risks of recurrence and may necessitate long-term self-catheterisation in certain instances. In this new method, physicians extracted a small tissue sample measuring 10 millimetres by 5 millimetres from the patient’s cheek and sent it to a specialized laboratory located in Pune. Over a period of two weeks, the sample was cultivated into approximately 50 lakh living cells. Given the limited viability of these cells, approximately 72 hours, they were transported back to Lucknow under a maintained cold chain to ensure their survival during transit. Once received, the cells were combined with liquid thrombin and administered endoscopically to the affected area after making an incision over the stricture. This allowed the cells to adhere to the wound site, promoting tissue healing and possibly reducing the likelihood of recurring scar formation. Dr. Mayank Mohan Agrawal, who serves as the Director and Head of Urology and Kidney Transplant at Apollomedics Hospital, noted that the entire surgical process was completed within 15 to 20 minutes. He emphasized that unlike traditional techniques, this new method does not involve making large cuts in the mouth or on the lower part of the body below the scrotum. Dr. Ved Bhaskar, the Associate Director of Urology at the same institution, mentioned that the procedure boasts a success rate ranging between 70 to 80 percent, aligning with that of open surgery. He highlighted that this technique could especially benefit elderly individuals and those with multiple health issues by eliminating the need for major incisions and significantly cutting down recovery times. Following the treatment, the patient was discharged the very next day, indicating a swift recovery. The hospital expressed confidence in the potential of this new approach, suggesting it could represent a significant advancement in treating urethral strictures with reduced invasiveness and quicker recovery periods. The procedure underscores ongoing advancements in regenerative medicine and highlights the growing role of cellular therapies in urological treatments. As more data emerges regarding its efficacy and safety profile, further research and clinical trials may be necessary to validate these preliminary findings and explore broader applications of this technique.