DMK Chief M Karunanidhi's health declines, Chennai hospital says maintaining vital organ functions a challenge

DMK Chief M Karunanidhi’s health has declined, Chennai’s Kauvery Hospital said in a fresh medical bulletin on Monday.

‘There has been a decline in the medical condiction of Kalaignar. Maintaining his vital organ functions continues to remain a challenge considering his age related ailments,’ the medical bulletin said.

‘He is on continuous monitoring and being treated with active medical support. His response to the medical interventions over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis,’ the bulletin added.

The 94-year-old DMK patriarch was suffering from fever and infection for the past few days and was being treated round-the-clock by a team of doctors and nursing personnel at his house. Later, he was admitted in Chennai’s Kauvery Hospital. Karunanidhi fell ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy. The veteran leader was admitted to the hospital for "optimisation of nutrition and hydration" in the first week of December 2016 and later, due to a throat and lung infection. 

Leaders across party lines have visited Kalaignar at the hospital. President Ramnath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi were among those who visited the ailing leader at the Chennai hospital. 

On July 30th, rumours about his death had triggered panic among DMK chief’s supporter. Kauvery Hospital had to issue a statement to pacify the DMK cadre. "There was a transient setback in the clinical condition of Karunanidhi. With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising. He continues to be closely monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors," the release had said. 

The police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the party cadres beyond the barricades as they remained unconvinced and tried to enter the hospital.

The first picture of Karunanidhi in the hospital bed was released on July 29 when Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu visited him. In the photograph, Naidu, alongwith the Governor, was looking at the 94-year-old DMK leader, who appears to be sleeping. The vital parameters reading in the photo imply that Karunanidhi's health is good.

His heart beat per minute stood at 94 against the normal reading between 60 and 100 while his respiration rate stood at 30 breaths per minute. The average breaths per minute for people over the age of 80 is between 10 and 30. Karunanidhi's blood oxygen level is at 97 millimetres of mercury against the normal value of 95 and 100.