Basu on temporary pacemaker, still critical

Kolkata, Jan 17 (ANI): Former West Bengal Chief Minister and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Jyoti Basu, who has suffered multi-organ failure, was given a temporary pacemaker early on Sunday morning.

Doctors at the AMRI Hospital have stated that his heartbeat has dropped below 50 when the normal is 60 and a temporary pacemaker has been installed.

"His condition is pretty bad. Before the rate of his heartbeat dropped, his blood pressure also declined when he was on Slow Low Efficiency Daily Dialysis (SLEDD), Dr Susruth Banerjee, told media.

The SLEDD, which was to be underway for eight hours, was stopped after seven-and-a-half hours because of the drop in blood pressure.

On Thursday Basu's lung congestion had reduced, while his pulse rate and blood pressure was stable.

The veteran leader was admitted to the AMRI hospital on January 1 following a severe chest infection.

Doctors there said he was suffering from slight pneumonia.

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