CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu agriculture minister R Doraikkannu, who was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on October 13, has been put on life support. His health condition is critical. He is being treated in an isolation intensive care ward of the hospital, doctors said.
On Sunday, doctors in Kauvery Hospital said the minister was being monitored by a team of experts and his condition was critical. "He was connected to an Ecmo after he suffered cardiac arrest. His condition is critical," a senior doctor told TOI.
The 72-year-old minister was brought to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai from Villupuram General Hospital in an advanced life support ambulance. He complained of breathlessness and uneasiness while he was travelling by road to Salem from Chennai to offer condolences to chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami after his mother died.
Doraikkannu was first taken to Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital (GVMCH) where doctors on duty gave him first aid and stabilized his condition. The minister with complaints of diabetes and high blood pressure and a history of cardiac arrest was then brought to Kauvery Hospitals for specialized care.
A health bulletin from Kauvery Hospital executive director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said Doraikannu was admitted with severe breathlessness after he tested positive for Covid-19. The viral infection had invaded 90percent of his lungs. "He is currently on Ecmo and ventilator receiving maximum support...and is closely monitored by a panel of specialist doctors in the ICU."
Earlier CM Edappadi K Palaniswami visited the hospital along with ministers D Jayakumar and C Vijayabaskar to enquire about Doraikkannu's health condition and interact with his family members.