Jayalalithaa very critical, on life support: Apollo Hospitals

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is in a 'grave situation' despite best efforts, Apollo Hospitals said in the latest bulletin on her health on Monday afternoon.

British expert Dr Richard Beale, Consultant Intensivist at the Guys and Thomas Hospital in London said that 'the situation is extremely grave'. "Despite Jayalalithaa's progress, her underlying health conditions inevitably meant risk of further problems remained," he said.

Earlier, the hospital had said that the CM 'continues to be very critical and is on life support', in the health bulletin issued a little before 1 pm.

Jayalalithaa, who suffered a cardiac arrest last evening, is being treated at the hospital for nearly three months.

"The Chief Minister continues to be critical and is on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device (ECMO) device," Apollo Hospitals COO Subbaih Viswanathan said in the bulletin at 1 pm. 

Dr Beale was being consulted over Skype and mobile phone on a regular basis and he has concurred with the current line of treatment being given to Jayalalithaa. Dr Beale had examined the Chief Minister thrice in the last three months and is one of the senior members of the team that was attending on Jayalalithaa.

Read: All you need to know about a 'heart-assistance device'

Apollo Hospitals, in a tweet late last night, had said doctors were closely monitoring Jayalalithaa's condition and trying their "very best".

The Chief Minister was put on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device (a heart pump) on Sunday and continues to be on it.

The centgral government on Monday dispatched a team of specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Science to Apollo Hospital. Four specialists from AIIMS would soon be reaching Apollo Hospital, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said.

"We are in constant touch with Apollo and the 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 would be able to help in her recovery. We pray to God she regains her health," Nadda has said.

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

Nadda said doctors would decide the line of treatment and that he had no plans as of now to travel to Chennai. “We are constantly in touch with 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.

Apollo Hospitals is expected to issue health bulletins on a regular basis, mainly to quell any rumour or speculation about the chief minister's health.

Security has been strengthened across the state with the Tamil Nadu DGP ordering all police officers and personnel to report for duty by 7 am on Monday for deployment.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also spoken to Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and enquired about Jayalalithaa's health.

Rao, who is also Governor of Maharashtra, rushed to Chennai yesterday and headed straight for the hospital.

Ministers and top police officials also spent the night at the hospital and held informal consultations on the situation.

Heavy deployment of police was made at the hospital on Greams Road where thousands of supporters of 'Amma' (mother), as she is fondly called by her supporters, and AIADMK cadre had gathered on hearing the news.

In a communication to ADGPs of Enforcement, CB-CID, Economic Offences Wing and Crime wings, the Director General of Police's office asked them to "mobilise all officers in the rank of SPs and police personnel of other ranks of Enforcement, CBCID, EOW and Crime completely and they should report" to SPs and Commissioners of Police at 7 AM. "They should report in full uniform with their vehicles for law and order bandobust duty until further orders," it said.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. The hospital, which had been issuing bulletins on her health status, had later said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support, among others.

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