The condition of veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu remained the same on Monday. He was being put on partial or full ventilation, depending on his requirements. His cardiovascular system was more or less stable. He is tolerating the feeds through the Ryles tube.
He was admitted to hospital on January 1, as he was suffering from pneumonia. Though his condition improved for the first five days, it took a dip on January 6, and he had to be put on ventilation.
The medical bulletin said that while his cardiovascular system was “more or less stable,” his blood pressure had to be maintained with the help of medicines. There was “no further improvement” of his lungs.
A bulletin issued by the hospital on Sunday stated Mr. Basu’s lungs were showing signs of improvement, with the infection being “adequately treated”.
While the doctors on the medical board have, for the time being, ruled out dialysis , his urine output was satisfactory, the evening bulletin said.
The former West Bengal Chief Minister and Mr. Basu’s friend, Siddhartha Shankar Ray, visited the hospital on Monday.
“I have come to see my friend whom I have known and loved for sixty years… In the past, whenever we had the discussion as to who will go [die] first, I always said I will do so, since Jyoti is a stronger man,” Mr. Ray, 89, told journalists.
Among the other visitors were Nepal’s former deputy Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, and Biman Bose, chairman of the West Bengal Left Front Committee.
