JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy who underwent an open heart surgery on Saturday morning is said to have responded to the procedure well.
Doctors who operated upon him have said that he is in a stable condition and that he would be kept under observation for one week.
Kumaraswamy underwent a valve replacement surgery, where the tissue valve that was inserted a decade ago, was replaced with an aortic valve. The valve is said to have been damaged following excessive coughing. The former chief minister was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals on Bannerghatta road two days ago.
A team of four cardiologists led by Dr Sathyaki P Nambala performed the four-hour minimally invasive redo aortic valve replacement (2.5-inch incision) surgery, which started at around 10 am.
Stating that the open heart surgery was successful, Dr Sathyaki said that the shelf life of the newly replaced valve was around 15 years. He added that Kumaraswamy was in need of rest and that he should not entertain any visitors for the next two weeks, as he would be prone to infections.
The 57-year-old, who is a diabetic, had undergone an open heart surgery in December 2007, following which his health has been fragile. By his own admission, Kumaraswamy is also highly prone to infections and allergies. During his tours in North Karnataka districts earlier this year he developed a bad cough after he inhaled fumes emitted by firecrackers.
The coughing aggravated, leading to weakness, during his recent visit to Israel, where he was advised hospitalisation. On his return to Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy consulted with his cardiologist (also his brother-in-law) Dr C N Manjunath of the Jayadeva Hospitals, who felt the need for the valve replacement.
As it was felt that the Apollo Hospitals is better equipped, Kumaraswamy was admitted to the hospital two days ago. The surgery was performed under the guidance of Dr Manjunath, Dr K S Ravindranath, former vice chancellor of RGUHS, and Dr AM Jagadeesh of Jayadeva hospital.
While Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha, son Nikhil Gowda and sister Shylaja were by his side at the hospital, his father H D Deve Gowda busied himself by making temple visits and performing puja for his son's speedy recovery. Gowda first visited the Shani temple in N R Colony and Karanji Anjaneyaswami temple in Basavangudi.
He later performed a ‘Maha Mrutynjaya homa’, 10,008 ‘Maharudra Parayana’ and ‘Maharudrabhisheka’ at the Gavigangadharaswami temple. His older son H D Revanna, MLC T A Sharavana and several JD(S) workers accompanied Gowda on these temple visits.
Kumaraswamy will be in post-operative care for the next one week. He has been advised rest for the next three weeks.
Published 23 September 2017, 06:06 IST