Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's condition critical but stable: Medical bulletin

The health condition of former Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is critical but stable. The former Chief Minister who was admitted to hospital with severe breathing distress on Wednesday remained has been responding to the treatment according to a medical bulletin issued by the hospital.

Even though the septuagenarian was initially put on a bipap, he was shifted to invasive (mechanical) ventilation after a test conducted on Wednesday revealed ‘accumulation of carbon dioxide and low PH level’.

The 76-year-old, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), is on ventilation and under sedatives but his oxygen saturation level remained a healthy 95%, according to the Woodlands Hospital where he is under treatment. An effort will soon be made to ease Bhattacharjee out of ventilation, it was decided at a meeting between the five-member medical board formed for his treatment and his family members on Thursday morning.

Bhattacharjee’s sedation was stopped on Thursday morning as a trial to assess his condition, which was found to have improved. Doctors, however, said his sedation will continue to assist effective ventilation.
According to preliminary investigations, including blood parameters and imaging, he had no significant abnormality. His current carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in blood have improved while his pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are stable. His cardiac condition, too, is stable. Bhattacharjee is on antibiotics, steroids and other supportive medication.

“Since his condition remains stable, a process of guarded withdrawal from ventilation is being planned. Treating doctors are keeping a constant vigil on his health situation and taking appropriate measures from time to time,” said Woodlands CEO Rupali Basu.

A five-member medical board has been formed with pulmonologist Kaushik Chakraborty, critical care expert Soutik Panda, cardiologist Saroj Mondal, pulmonologist Ankan Bandopadhyay and anaesthesiologist Asis Patra.