NEW DELHI: Dr Sachin Kandhari, senior neurosurgeon and managing director of IBS Hospital in New Delhi, died at the age of 50 on Monday following a cardiac arrest.He was known for his work in neurosurgery, particularly in spinal cord injury treatment and neuromodulation.Kandhari had around two decades of experience in the field and was associated with several initiatives aimed at improving treatment and rehabilitation for patients with severe spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.At IBS Hospital, Kandhari was involved in developing the hospital’s neuromodulation programme. According to his professional profile, he spearheaded the introduction of Cyberdyne’s Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) system at the hospital in November 2020.He was also associated with the introduction of epidural stimulation treatment for paraplegic patients in India in 2017. His work included the Finetech-Brindley sacral neuromodulation technique, which is used to help patients with complete spinal cord injuries manage bladder and bowel functions.Kandhari’s work also included high cervical stimulation for patients in a persistent vegetative state and cortical stimulation for paralysis. He had collaborated with UCLA on advancing treatment for spinal cord injuries.His academic and research work covered epidural electrical spinal cord stimulation, spinal neuromodulation and the recovery of sensorimotor and autonomic functions following complete paralysis. His publications also included research on transcutaneous spinal neuromodulation in patients with cerebral palsy, as well as treatment-related studies involving patients with prolonged unconsciousness and stroke.Kandhari completed his DNB at Sir H.N. Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai and his MBBS from Jammu University. He underwent further training in functional neurosurgery, stereotactic surgery, Gamma Knife radiosurgery, interventional neuroradiology and endoscopic spine and brain stimulation surgeries.Before joining IBS Hospital, Kandhari worked with the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi and held consultant positions at hospitals in Faridabad and Noida. He also served as a visiting consultant and medical adviser in neuromodulation at medical institutions in Bangkok, Tashkent and Dushanbe.He was a member of the Neurological Society of India, Indian Medical Association, Delhi Medical Council and European Association of Neurosurgeons.During his career, Kandhari received several awards and recognitions, including an Excellence Award from the Sultanate of Oman in 2014, an Achiever Award in 2016, recognition for his contribution to healthcare at the Swastha Hindustan Conclave in 2017 and the Bharat Shiromani Award in 2019. His professional profile also records recognition for exemplary work from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Remembering Kandhari, IBS Hospital said his work was driven by a commitment to helping patients with severe neurological and spinal cord conditions. The hospital said his legacy would continue through the patients and colleagues he worked with.
