Jayalalithaa cardiac arrest: TN on edge; 'doctors doing their best,' says Apollo Hospitals

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa is back in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai after she suffered a cardiac arrest Sunday evening. Thousands of AIADMK party workers have jammed the streets near Chennai’s Apollo Hospitals, riot police is on the ready as steady early Monday morning rain gets heavier in Chennai. “Our doctors are trying their very best,” Apollo Hospitals’ Sangita Reddy tweeted at around 3 am Monday morning. [caption id=“attachment_2965654” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] J Jayalalithaa/ PTI[/caption] Apollo Hospitals has confirmed that Jayalalithaa has been put on an extracorporeal membrane heart assist device which is a bypass machine that pumps and oxygenates patient’s blood outside the body. In simpler language, that’s life support. Jayalalithaa’s cardiac arrest follows on the same day that AIADMK said that she was well and would soon return to her Poes Garden residence.

Late Sunday evening, Apollo Hospitals COO Subbiah Viswanathan said Jayalalithaa “suffered a cardiac arrest this evening. She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts including cardiologists, pulmonologist and the critical care specialists.” Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, air-dashed to Chennai from Mumbai following the development and visited the Apollo Hospitals at midnight. He spent about 10 minutes at the hospital taking stock of the situation. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals on the night of September 22, with “low grade fever and dehydration”. Apollo Hospitals has confirmed that Dr Richard John Beale, UK expert in lung injuries and intensive care management has also okayed the line of treatment. Beale has been working closely with the Apollo team in Chennai for the last few months. Timeline of Jaya’s deteriorating health September 22, 2016: Admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, with fever and dehydration. October 1, 2016: AIADMK leader B. Valarmathi says Jaya performing official duties while in the hospital. October 2, 2016: Apollo Hospitals says the chief minister being administered antibiotics to “treat infection.” Apollo takes opinion from Dr. Richard Beale, a specialist from the Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, London. October 7, 2016: Apollo Hospital says “present treatment regimen includes continued respiratory support, nebulisation, drugs to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy.” November 3, 2016: Apollo Hospitals Chairman Pratap C. Reddy says Jayalalithaa has recovered and that “she is aware of her surroundings and understands what is going on around her.” November 13, 2016: Jayalalithaa, in a signed letter, says she is waiting to get back soon to routine official work. November 19, 2016: Jayalalithaa is responding “beautifully” without ventilator and she can go home whenever she wants, says Prathap C. Reddy December 4, 2016: An AIADMK press release says the chief minister will return home soon. December 4, 2016: Jayalalithaa suffers cardiac arrest.