Vajpayee's condition improving

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s chest infection has subsided almost completely, though he’s still in ICU at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s chest infection has subsided almost completely, though he’s still in ICU at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

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“He is doing absolutely fine. Now it is up to his (Vajpayee’s) physician to decide whether he can take care of Atalji at home. He is sitting up, reading news papers and watching television,” said Dr A Sampath Kumar, head and professor of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences Department of AIIMS. "We are taking it by the day. Today was a good day. He is responding well to treatment."

Vajpayee's ventilatory support was removed on Sunday and he is breathing on his own, according to Dr Sampath Kumar. “He is unable to speak because he underwent tracheotomy (windpipe surgery to make breathing easier) on last Friday. That will take time but otherwise he is fine,” said Dr Kumar.

The 84-year-old veteran BJP leader was admitted to AIIMS on February 3 following chest infection. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia and put on ventilatory support.