Man Who Underwent Heart Transplant Surgery In Kerala Dies of Kidney Failure

A 45-year-old patient who had undergone heart transplant surgery at Kottayam Medical College died of renal failure on October 4.

Podimon, a native of Chittar in Pathanamthitta, underwent a surgery on September 15. The surgery made news as Kottayam Medical College became the first government-run hospital in Kerala to have carried out a heart transplant.

Podimon suffered a cardiac arrest two years ago. His heart muscles were weakened and the pumping of blood was slowed down. He also had renal complications even before the heart transplant surgery, according to hospital sources.

V K Jayakumar, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon who conducted the surgery, said, "It was a high risk surgery both from the donor's and recipient's side. But we had little option left."

The heart was harvested from a brain-dead Vinay Kumar from Aluva in Ernakulam district.

Podimon's death was confirmed by 9.15 p.m, 20 days after the surgery.

Source: Medindia