Kumaraswamy undergoes surgery

Bangalore, Dec 20 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today successfully underwent open heart surgery to replace the blocked 'calcific aortic valve' at a private hospital here.

The four-and-a-half hour surgery was carried out by a five-member team of noted cardiac surgeons led by Dr Vivek Jawali at Wockhardt Hospital.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda arrived at the hospital early this morning and remained there till the surgery was completed.

''The surgery went very well. Mr Kumaraswamy will soon be shifted to the ICU,'' Wockhardt Hospital CEO Vishal Bali told UNI.

''Dr C N Manjunath, a cardiac surgeon and brother-in-law of Mr Kumaraswamy, was among the team of doctors who performed the operation,'' Dr Bali said.

The JD(S) leader was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday after he complained of chest pain.

He was diagnosed to be suffering from 'calcific aortic valve stenosis', a valvular heart disease.

The disease occurs mainly in aged people, but younger people get the condition if the protein collagen is destroyed and calcium gets deposited in the valve leaflets.

UNI