Hale & hearty' men bring cheers to Kottayam Medical College Hospital

KOTTAYAM: The two patients on whom heart transplant surgeries were conducted at the Medical College Hospital here are in fine health. Basheer, 45, of Edavanakad in Kochi, received a new heart on April 27 and K.K. Balan, 51, of Wayanad on June 22. While Basheer is staying at a house near the MCH for follow-up treatment which will last another month, Balan is stable and will be shifted to a house near the MCH. Dr T.K. Jayakumar, professor and head of the department of cardio-vascular and thoracic surgery at the MCH, who led the transplant surgery, told Deccan Chronicle that the condition of the two was stable.

It may be recalled that the first heart transplant done by Dr Jayakumar in the MCH last year had failed with Podimon of Pathanamthitta dying on October 4 due to multiple organ failure after the surgery was done on September 15. Though Balan can move and eat any food, he is under observation and kept at the isolation ward.

“We were told that we can move to a house for the follow-up treatment for the next three months, and then we can go home,” said Balan’s son Ramkumar. Basheer has high sugar level and his food is controlled. His son Shahjahan told Deccan Chronicle that he hoped to return home after one month’s treatment. Sources said that six cases have already been registered at the MCH for heart and lung transplants.