Heart transplant patient dead

KOTTAYAM: Podimon (45) of Chittar, Pathanamthitta, who had undergone heart transplant surgery at Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital, died here on Sunday. According to V K Jayakumar, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon who conducted the surgery, Podimon died of renal failure. His death was confirmed by 9.15 pm. According to Dr Jayakumar, his was a high risk surgery both from the donor’s and recipient’s side. “But we had little option left,” the doctor said. Podimon's was the first such surgery carried out in a government hospital in the state. Podimon underwent surgery on September 16. He died on the 21st day of his transplant.