The heart was brought to the Kottayam Medical College in one hour and 20 minutesKottayam: The Kottayam Medical College Hospital has successfully completed its third heart transplant, giving a new lease of life to K.K. Balan from Pulpalli in Wayanad. Balan (51) received the heart of Erali Francis (48), who was declared brain dead in a hospital in Angamali.
The heart was brought to the Kottayam Medical College in one hour and 20 minutes thanks to flawless coordination by the police.
Cardiac surgery department head Dr T.K. Jayakumar and team completed the transplant in thee hours. Balan was shifted to the intensive care unit by 3 pm as the heart started beating normally, Dr Jayakumar said.
Balan has been under treatment for heart diseases for six years. He was almost bedridden for the last one year after multiple heart attacks left his heart damaged and weak. Balan and family had hired a house at Puthuppalli eight months ago to ensure constant care. He had registered in the government organ donation programme, Mritasanjeevani, for a heart.
Francis died of head injuries he suffered in a road accident. His wife Rosily and other relatives decided to donate his organs, lighting up the future for five families including Balan's. Francis' kidneys, liver and corneas were also donated.
KK Balan and Erali FrancisAs soon as Francis' brain death was confirmed on Wednesday dawn, a group of doctors from Kottayam rushed to Angamali to harvest his heart. By the time they returned to the Medical College, Dr Ratheesh Radhakrishnan and other doctors had started the surgery on Balan.
The first heart transplant at the Kottayam Medical College was conducted in September 2015. A healthy heart was successfully transplanted on to Podimon. The Pathanamthitta native, however, died a few months later due to complications not related to the heart transplant.
On April 26, Basheer (45) from Edavanakkad in Ernakulam district received a heart from the Medical College. He is healthy and fast recovering in his house.
The latest heart transplant was also done with the money released from the state government’s Karunya Fund. Rs 2 lakh was released for Balan’s heart transplant.
Doctors are confident of the transplant but a bit concerned about other health issues faced by Balan. The patient had sought treatment for a lung-related ailment two years ago. He also had problems with appendicitis. The medication necessary to prevent the rejection of the new heart may trigger the previous ailments, the doctors fear.
Dr Akash Babu, Dr Vineetha V. Nair, Dr Joseph, Dr Ashraf, Dr Kunal Krishnan assisted Dr Jayakumar and Dr Radhakrishnan in the transplant. Anaesthetists Dr Elsamma Jacob, Dr Sanjeev Thambi, Dr Thomas Pandarakkalam, Dr Ravi Kumar and Dr Anju Mary Devassia and perfusionists Rajesh Mullankuzhi, Saji Bahuleyan, Jefin, Melbin and Tiju were also part of the team.
