Q: Two weeks back my father (aged 66 years) had a heart attack. After 2 days he had one more attack but both were mild, according to the doctors. But they couldn't do anything to remove the block because both his kidneys were weak. Now after 2 weeks he is undergoing dialysis & his heart condition remains the same. I wanted to know whether we can go for kidney transplantation at this stage or should we wait till he recovers. I think he is struggling a lot & we desperately want to help him. The doctors here are not very clear. Please advise us. As he is undergoing dialysis can he be operated on his heart to remove the block?

A:The most common cause of loss of transplanted kidney following kidney transplantation is death due to heart disease. With the history of recent heart attack he will not be good candidate for kidney transplant unless the heart condition is looked into and fixed. Therefore, since he is on dialysis now the cardiologists can investigate the heart to determine the best course of treatment for the heart and then the idea of transplantation could possibly be entertained.