Kochi, Oct 17: In a remarkable milestone for regenerative medicine in India, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, has successfully performed the country’s first commercial use of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of a perianal fistula. The surgery was performed on a 52-year-old male patient from Ernakulam, marking a breakthrough in advanced fistula care.

The patient, who had undergone five previous surgeries for recurrent fistula without lasting relief, was advised a novel cell-based therapy approach by the medical team. The decision was made to utilize allogenic mesenchymal stem cells, a technique widely recognized in regenerative medicine for its potential to repair and regenerate damaged tissues.

The pioneering procedure was led by Dr. Riju R. Menon, Professor, Department of General Surgery; Dr. Anoop Vasudevan Pillai, Associate Professor; and Dr. Eldho Isaac from the Department of Anaesthesiology. The team used a specially approved commercial stem cell preparation specifically designed for complex perianal fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease, ensuring that all regulatory and ethical protocols were strictly followed.

According to the medical team, the patient tolerated the procedure well and is currently undergoing regular follow-up with encouraging early outcomes.

Experts noted that with this achievement, India has now joined a select group of countries using stem cell therapy for complex perianal fistulas caused by Crohn’s disease. They added that this development will pave the way for new advancements in cell-based regenerative medicine across various fields of treatment.

This pioneering step also brings new hope to patients suffering from perianal fistula due to Crohn's disease,  for whom conventional surgical and medical treatments often offer limited relief.