Lalu taken off ventilator: Hospital

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was taken off ventilator today, a day after he underwent cardiac surgery at a private hospital in suburban Mumbai, and his vital parameters are within a normal range, according to a senior official.
"Lalu Prasad Yadav has been taken off the ventilator support system and all his vital parameters, like blood pressure, oxygen level and heart beat, are in a normal range. He is not on any support system now and has been allowed to take minimal liquids orally," Dr Vijay D'Silva, Director, Medical Affairs and Critical Care, Asian Heart Institute, told PTI.
The 66-year-old former Bihar chief minister, diagnosed with 'aortic stenosis', was operated on by a team of 20 doctors under the supervision of well-known cardiac surgeon Ramakanta Panda yesterday. He was admitted to the Institute on Monday.

During the surgery, which lasted for over six hours, Lalu underwent AVR-aortic valve replacement, aortic repair and repair of a 3 mm hole in his heart.
"Lalu is back to his usual witty self, is talking and laughing with his visitors," Dr D'Silva said.
"We will be keeping him in the ICU till Saturday and he will be in the hospital for another week under close monitoring," Dr D'Silva said.

Earlier in the day, Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal met Lalu at around 10.30 AM and wished him a speedy recovery. They stayed with his family members for about half-an-hour, a hospital spokesperson said.

Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the institute Dr Ramakanta Panda had last night said that Lalu will be discharged after 10-12 days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and some other political leaders had yesterday wished the former Union Railway Minister a speedy recovery.
RJD leaders, legislators and well-wishers had also conducted a 'hawan' (fire ritual) and special prayers at party headquarters in Patna yesterday for Yadav's speedy recovery.