RK Laxman hospitalised

Well-Known cartoonist R K Laxman (88) was admitted to Command Hospital where he underwent a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). “He was being fed for the last three months via a nasal tube which was uncomfortable and now a tube has been placed directly in the stomach using an endoscope,” Maj Gen S S Panwar,Commandant,Command Hospital said.

Laxman who had first suffered a paralytic stroke in 2003 had suffered another stroke three months ago,and underwent treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital. According to his 84-year-old wife Kamala Laxman,he got tired of the nasal feed for the last two and a half months and despite being unable to speak or swallow conveyed to his relatives that “it was taking the life out of him.”

“We decided to shift him to Command hospital,” Laxman’s wife said while speaking to reporters at Ward number 21. Col V K Gupta,senior advisor (medicine and gastroenterology) said that he had suffered from a pseudo bulbar palsy stroke. “He can comprehend but cannot speak or swallow,” said Col A K Tewari,senior advisor (medicine and neurology).

The only surgical intervention done at Command hospital was to remove the nasal tube,said Laxman’s wife. “He will be discharged soon and further treatment involves speech therapy,” she added.