'Jaya making progress'

The health condition of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital here, continues to improve, doctors treating her said.

A team of experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is examining her and the present line of treatment consists of antibiotics and respiratory support.

A health bulletin released by Apollo Hospital Chief Operating Officer Subbiah Viswanathan on Thursday night said Jayalalithaa is under the observation of a panel of doctors, including intensivists, cardiologists, respiratory physicians, infectious disease specialists and diabetologists.

The 68-year-old AIADMK supremo was admitted to hospital on September 22 due to fever and dehydration.

“Detailed lab and radiology investigations are continuously being carried out by the panel of doctors,” Viswanathan said.

He said the team of experts from AIIMS includes Prof Dr G Khilnai, professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine; Prof Dr Anjan Trikha, professor, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care; and Prof Dr Nitish Naik, professor, Department of Cardiology.

Viswanathan said the experts had held detailed deliberations with the specialists’ team at Apollo regarding the treatment provided to Jayalalithaa.

“The expert team from AIIMS examined the chief minister and concurred with the present line of treatment provided to her. The team will be available till October 7,” Viswanathan said.

Further, Dr Richard John Beale, specialist and consultant from the UK, who had examined the chief minister on September 30, re-evaluated her treatment on Thursday.

Based on the deliberations and clinical examination, the doctors from Apollo have drawn up a detailed medical management plan keeping in view the chief minister’s known history of diabetes and winter bronchitis in inclement weather. “The treatment includes nebulisation, drugs to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy,” the bulletin said.

The consensus of all the experts is that the line of treatment should continue and Jayalalithaa will be required to stay longer in hospital, it said.