Maran8217;s condition improves

He said the minister had developed recurrent pulmonary oedema and was earlier treated with av sequential pace-making8217; which led to some improvement in his condition. But around 9.30 pm he went into severe pulmonary oedema and was put on artificial ventilator.

After investigations revealed the presence of a severe gradient across the outflow tract of the left ventricle, a non-surgical procedure 8212; Alcohol Ablation of the septum 8212; was performed to decrease the gradient.

The minister8217;s response to this line of treatment was encouraging resulting in improvement in his condition.

However, the condition of Maran, who was shifted to the ICU after the procedure at 4 am, had to be monitored very closely for the next two or three days, he added.

Reddy said a preliminary cardiac cath was performed on Maran, which revealed the gradient across the outflow tract of LV and severe mitral incompetence.

Septal artery was cannulated and a trial occlusion of the artery revealed significant reduction of the gradient and mitral incompetence, he said.

As Maran8217;s condition deteriorated, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, his cabinet colleagues and several DMK functionaries rushed to the hospital and remained there till he was brought back to the ICU from the cath lab.

Tamil Maanila Congress president G K Moopanar also remained in the hospital and left only around 3.30 am.

The state chief secretary A P Muthusamy and state home secretary, Shantha Sheila Nair were also present at the hospital.