Suchitra Sen critical, on constant oxygen support

Veteran Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, whose condition had deteriorated slightly in the afternoon, is stable at the moment but still critical, a doctor said Saturday.

Her oxygen level had dipped in the afternoon thereby necessitating intensive non-invasive oxygen support.

However, her doctors ruled out any invasive ventilation (via tracheotomy) therapy for now.

"She is weak and needs oxygen support. She is not on life support," Abhirup Chakraborty, one of the team of experts monitoring her at the Belle Vue Clinic here, told IANS.

Her cardiac health needs attention, he added.

Sen is on an oral prescribed diet which is being supplemented with peripheral nutrition through intravenous channel to fulfil her dietary requirements, the medical bulletin said Saturday.

"The main issue is her oxygen saturation is fluctuating," said the doctor, adding that life-saving drugs are part of her prescribed regimen.

Her condition had deteriorated Thursday prompting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to visit the hospital for consecutive days on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The 82-year-old actress, who has shunned media and public for decades since her retirement from the film industry, initially suffered chest infection, and was undergoing treatment for it at the nursing home since Dec 23. Her condition worsened Dec 28 night.

Following complications, Sen was put on the ventilator Jan 3.

Dubbed as the Greta Garbo of Bengali cinema, Sen is known for her performances in films "Deep Jwele Jaai" and "Uttar Falguni" in Bengali as well as Hindi movies "Devdas", "Bombai Ka Babu", "Mamta" and "Aandhi".

She won the best actress award for "Saat Paake Bandha" at the Moscow Film Festival in 1963.