Rajkumar

BANGALORE: The condition of the veteran actor Rajkumar, 78, who was admitted to Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute early on Monday morning, is stable.

When admitted, Mr. Rajkumar had unstable angina, a condition in which blood flow to the heart is reduced, as well as bronchial allergy and collection of fluid in the lungs because of the heart's impaired pumping action.

Ramana Rao, the actor's personal physician, said the thespian complained of severe chest pain with shortness of breath and sweating at 4 a.m. on Monday. He was rushed to Wockhardt Hospital's critical care unit (CCU) within minutes and treated with nitrogylcerine and heparin, a blood thinner. "Within minutes we brought him to the hospital and averted any big problem," said Dr. Rao at a press conference organised by the hospital.

Dr. Rao added that there is no indication of impending danger to the actor's life and his attitude is very positive. Mr. Rajkumar had an angioplasty performed on him to remove blocks in his arteries at the same hospital a year and a half ago.

Dr. Rao added that Mr. Rajkumar's condition may have been brought about by the recent death of his elder brother, Varadaraj.

P. Ranganath Nayak, interventional cardiologist at the hospital, stressed that Mr. Rajkumar had not had a heart attack. He said Mr. Rajkumar suffered an "episode of angina," in which blood supply to the heart was limited, and not a heart attack in which a blood vessel gets blocked.

K.S. Satish, chest physician, said Mr. Rajkumar had a bronchial allergy that caused a bout of coughing. However, the chest infection is not causing any worry, he said.

Dr. Nayak said if Mr. Rajkumar's condition continues to be stable he will be shifted from the CCU on Tuesday and he will be discharged most probably on Thursday.

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