Jyoti Basu still critical

Kolkata, Jan 12 (ANI): Former West Bengal Chief Minister and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Jyoti Basu's health condition is reported be to critical on Tuesday.

As per the reports of the latest medical bulletin released by AMRI hospital in Salt Lake here, Basu has developed a slight temperature and the doctors will test his urine and blood to confirm if he has not developed any infection.

The hospital sources claimed that Basu's blood pressure has been normal.e has been kept under full ventilation for the past few days.

A K Maity, one of the doctors treating Basu said, "Basu's condition is same as on Monday morning. He is on ventilator and his blood pressure is stable but with medicine."

"It is true that the improvement in his condition we expected is not there. We spoke to the AIIMS specialists but they had no additional suggestion about treatment," he added.

Earlier on Monday, AMRI Hospital Medical Board Member Dr Susrut Bandyopadhyay told the media, "It is not a good sign. We expected a bit more improvement, but there has been no change in Basu's health. A patient staying in ICU without any improvement is a bad sign."

The doctors treating him at the AMRI hospital here had further said the oedema, which is accumulation of fluid, in Basu's brain has been arrested, adding that he has been able to take in 40 percent of the supplied oxygen.

The doctors had said that if the three external supplies- partial ventilation, oxygen supply and food - were withdrawn, they would be unsure of Basu's health.

The veteran leader was admitted to the AMRI hospital in Salt Lake here on Friday (January 1) following a severe chest infection.

The doctors after conducting a proper check-up had earlier detected that he was suffering from slight pneumonia.

Earlier in July 2009, Basu was admitted to the hospital complaining of discomfort in the abdomen and a disturbed sleep. (ANI)