Karuna continues to be in ICU; Rahul visits him

Though M Karunanidhi continues to maintain vital signs with active medical support, the DMK president would need an extended period of stay at the hospital due to an overall decline in his health because of his age and altered liver function.

In its longest health bulletin, after Karunanidhi was rushed into an ICU in the wee hours of July 28, Kauvery Hospital said there has been the resolution of condition that led to his hospitalisation.

“He (Karunanidhi) was resuscitated and stabilised in the ICU and managed by a team of doctors and nurses. There was a setback on his clinical condition on 29/07/2018 due to difficulty in breathing. He responded well to medical management and his vital signs have gradually normalised,” the medical bulletin signed by Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, said.

“Although there has been a resolution of the condition which led to his hospital admission, an extended period of hospitalisation will be necessary due to age-related overall decline in his general health, altered liver function and haematological parameters. He continues to maintain his vital signs with active medical support,” the bulletin further said.

Tuesday also saw Congress president Rahul Gandhi visiting the former Tamil Nadu chief minister at the ICU. The DMK released the picture of Rahul in the ICU in which DMK leader M K Stalin is seen telling Karunanidhi that the Congress chief has come to see him.

The picture shows Karunanidhi sans his trademark black glasses that has been synonymous with the DMK chief. Stalin and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran were also present at the ICU when Rahul visited Karunanidhi.

After the meeting, Rahul told reporters that Karunanidhi was “very tough” and has the “spirit of the people of Tamil Nadu.”

“I was quiet happy that he is doing well. He is very tough and he is stable. He is fine. He is stable and as I said, he is a very tough person like the people of Tamil Nadu, he has the spirit with him. I was happy to see that he is stable,” Rahul told reporters.