Jaya critical, put on heart-assist device; Delhi doctors rush to Chennai

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, continues to be critical and is under the observation of a special team of doctors at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, where she has been undergoing treatment for more than two months.

Doctors were closely monitoring the condition of Jayalalithaa and trying their "very best", the hospital said early today, hours after she suffered the cardiac arrest.

British expert Dr Richard Beale, Consultant Intensivist at the Guys and Thomas Hospital in London, is being consulted over Skype and mobile phone on a regular basis. He has concurred with the current line of treatment being given to Jayalalithaa. Dr Beale had examined the Chief Minister thrice in the past three months and is one of the senior members of the team that was attending on Jayalalithaa.

68-year-old Chief Minister is put on extracorporeal membrane heart-assist device (a heart pump).

Centre today dispatched a team of specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Science to Apollo Hospital. Four specialists from AIIMS will soon be reaching Apollo Hospital, Health Minister J P Nadda said.

"We are in constant touch with Apollo and Tamil Nadu Government. They had requested a team of doctors from AIIMS. We have sent a team of specialists from AIIMS Dr Khilani, Dr Trikha, Dr Narang and Dr Talwar. We hope that doctors from AIIMS and Apollo will be able to help in her recovery. We pray to God that she regains her health," Nadda said.

The team of AIIMS doctors include pulmonologist Dr GC Khilnani, anaesthetist Dr Anjan Trikha, cardiac surgeon Dr Sachin Talwar and cardiologist Dr Rajiv Narang. Eminent cardiologist Dr Naresh Trehan will be heading the team.

Nadda said the doctors would decide the line of treatment and that he has no plans as of now to travel to Chennai. “We are constantly in touch with the hospital authorities and officials of the state government in Chennai. We have sent a team of doctors and are constantly monitoring the situation,” Nadda said.

Since the Chief Minister’s health is critical and rumours about her health doing the rounds, Apollo Hospitals is expected to issue health bulletins on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, all AIADMK MLAs have rushed to Chennai and are waiting for instructions from the party headquarters.

A large number of AIADMK cadres, including women, anxiously stayed put outside the hospital, which has been covered in a thick blanket of security. Worried party supporters continued to pray for her recovery.

State DGP T K Rajendran yesterday asked all police personnel to remain on duty from today "until further orders". "They should report in full uniform with their vehicles for law and order bandobust duty until further orders," he said.

Announcing the sudden deterioration in health, a statement by Chief Operating Officer and head of transformation of Apollo Hospitals Dr Subbaiah Viswanathan last night said, "she is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists."

Following the development, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who is also the Governor of Maharashtra, airdashed to the city from Mumbai and visited Apollo Hospitals last night. On Monday, the Governor said there was no ‘law and order’ situation in the state.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who arrived at the airport here this morning, said all BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wished for a complete recovery of Jayalalithaa and they were praying for her.

He expressed confidence that Jayalalithaa will soon recover and resume official duties.

Party workers, who had gathered in large numbers outside the hospital after news of her cardiac arrest broke, braved midnight rains and continued to wait outside, praying for the recovery of 'Amma' (mother), as she is fondly called by her supporters.

Actor and party supporter, 'Gundu' Kalyanam, said the party workers had faith in the divine power and expressed confidence that Jayalalithaa would recover.

President Pranab Mukherjee, DMK leader M Karunanidhi, his son and opposition leader K Stalin, Union Ministers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers and a host of leaders have expressed concern over Jayalalithaa's health condition and wished her speedy recovery.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration, and later treated for infection and respiratory problem.