Lalu's doctor assures surgery's success, says he is still recovering

Rahshtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's surgeon Dr. Ramakant Panda, who performed his heart surgery today, assured of a successful operation and informed that Yadav is still recovering.

"We did the surgery this morning. The entire operation took a little over six hours. We did around three surgeries. One of the major reasons why we did the surgery was valve replacement. In addition to that, we did a repair of the aorta and there was a small little hole in the heart also, which we closed," said Panda.

"The surgery went very well. There were no complications at all during the surgery, and post surgery, Yadav is still recovering from the effect of anesthesia. We hope that in the next few hours, if he recovers we will probably get the breathing pipe out, but if that is not possible, tomorrow morning we will get the breathing pipe out," Panda added.

Panda also said that Yadav, who has been admitted at the Asian Heart hospital in Mumbai, is currently doing well as the blood pressure and all other vital parameters are stable, but will be kept in the ICU under observation for at least three days.

Adding to it, he said that although currently no one is allowed to meet him except the family members, after he is discharged, there will be no restrictions on him and he will be as fit as earlier.

67-year-old Lalu was hospitalized on Monday, the day bye-election results were being counted in Bihar and three other states. The RJD-Janata Dal (United)-Congress combine won six of the 10 seats in the state's by-election.