Kumaraswamy undergoes valve replacement surgery

BENGALURU: Janata Dal (Secular) state president H D Kumaraswamy underwent a successful valve replacement surgery at Apollo hospital on Saturday. The minimally invasive redo aortic valve replacement surgery with a 2.5 inch incision, which started around 10 am and finished at 2 pm, was helmed by chief cardiac surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Dr Sathyaki Nambala. Kumaraswamy (57) will be under observation in the ICU for 48 hours and will have a one week stay at the hospital.

Medical Superintendent at Apollo, Govindaiah Yatheesh said that Kumaraswamy’s diabetic condition was an underlying factor that needed to be taken care of and visitors will be restricted for two weeks. His recuperation time at home is expected to be three weeks.  

In December 2007, Kumaraswamy had a valve replacement surgery and the typical life of the valve is anything from 10 to 15 years. However, Kumaraswamy had developed a persistent cough due to associated infections and had to go for another replacement. He also developed severe cough during his visit to Israel recently, forcing him to consult doctors as soon as he returned.

Doctors at Apollo said that the durability of the valve also depended on the care taken and other factors. His father H D Deve Gowda, accompanied by older son H D Revanna, MLC T A Saravana and other leaders offered prayers at Shani temple in N R Colony, Anjaneyaswamy temple in Basavanagudi and also at the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple in Hanumanthanagar. Leaders across parties including BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and Energy Minister D K Shivakumar wished him speedy recovery.

HDK not contesting from N-Karnataka

Deve Gowda said that Kumaraswamy’s original constituency was Ramanagara and he will contest from there and not from any district in North Karnataka, though other party leaders seemed keen on it. Speaking to reporters after the JD(S) core committee meeting, he said that both and he and Kumaraswamy had become Chief Ministers after winning from Ramanagara.  While Gowda will start touring the state from September 25, Kumaraswamy will resume his tours after recovery and focus on North Karnataka.