Mahajan on dialysis; remains critical

Mumbai, Apr 24 (UNI) Doctors intensified their efforts to save senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, whose condition remained critical even after a second emergency operation last night, compelling immediate dialysis as his kidneys functioned poorly today.

Mr Mahajan is waging a survival battle at Hinduja hospital after he was shot and seriously wounded on Saturday by his brother Pravin at the BJP leader's Worli apartment.

The assailant has been remanded to police custody till April 29 after he surrendered with his weapon.

Hinduja hospital, in the third written medical bulletin issued today on the condition of 56-year-old Mahajan, however, did not use the word 'stable'.

The bulletin issued by hospital Director (administration) Anupam Verma said ''further to operation on Mr Pramod Mahajan last evening, his condition continues to remain critical. He is in ICU on ventilator and medication to support his blood pressure.'' It further said ''his kidney functions are poor and he has been put on dialysis. He is being monitored closely for his pancreatic and hepatic (liver) injuries, in spite of the fact that his liver bleeding has stopped.'' Mr Mahajan's brother-in-law Gopinath Munde, who has been with the seriously injured leader since he brought him to the hospital on Saturday, talking to media persons, said, ''he (Pramod) is struggling but I have full faith... confidence (that) he will emerge healed.'' Mr Mahajan's son Rahul, who, too, has been with his father since the incident, said, ''he is responding positively to the treatment.'' The bulletin further said ''efforts are on by Dr G B Davar and his team of surgeons to stabilise him before contemplating any further intervention.'' Earlier, trauma specialist Dr Stefen Dave from Australia, after holding intensive discussion with teams of Indian and British doctors, declined to share his assessment on the condition of Mr Mahajan with the media. He said whatever he had to say he had told the British and Indian doctors. The British team, led by leading liver transplant specialist Dr Mohammad Rela, was associated with the Hindjua team when Mr Mahajan underwent a two-hour surgery to replace packs from liver. Dr Rela also examined Mr Mahajan this morning.

Dr Dave, vice president of the Australian College of Surgeons, who was in Ahmedabad, flew to Mumbai this morning to see Mr Mahajan at the request of the Gujarat Government. The surgeon, who has been been a frequent visitor to India for the last six years, said he was in the Gujarat capital for a training programme and was asked by Chief Minister Narendra Modi to visit Mr Mahajan.

He said he was impressed by the standard of treatment given to Mr Mahajan and added that a high-level British team of doctors is already present and appropriate medication and decisions are in place.

Three bullets pumped into Mr Mahajan at his Worli residence on Saturday morning, allegedly by his younger brother Pravin, had shattered his liver, pancreas and intestines.

UNI GVS-MR GK/SA RP GC1749