Vajpayee fine, likely to fully recover in few days: AIIMS

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, undergoing treatment for urinary tract infection, is showing "significant" improvement and would be able to "fully recover" in the next few days, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said on Wednesday.

"He has shown significant improvement with treatment over the last 48 hours. His kidney function has improved with near normal urine output. His infection is under control. We are very hopeful that he should make a full recovery over the next few days," Guleria told reporters.

Vajpayee, 93, was admitted to AIIMS on Monday with urinary tract infection, chest congestion and low urine output. He was evaluated by a team of senior doctors and was put on injectable antibiotics and slow dialysis to support his renal function, the Director said.

"His blood pressure, heart rate and breathing are all normal. They are being maintained without any support. His laboratory parameters also are normal. They are showing good values and we are quite happy with that. We hopefully should be able to send him home in the next few days."

Hospitalisation of Vajpayee, who was Prime Minister briefly in 1996 and then from 1998 to 2004 but had retreated from active politics over the last decade due to failing health, has triggered VIP visits including that of current and former Prime Ministers to the hospital.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi called on Vajpayee on the very first day, former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and H.D. Deve Gowda, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat visited him on Tuesday.

The beeline of visitors continued on Wednesday. Among those who called on Vajpayee on his third day of hospitalisation include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Former Vice President Hamid Ansari, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, Republican Party of India president and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, former JD-U President Sharad Yadav and veteran journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik also visited AIIMS to enquire about his health.

Wishes for speedy recovery has been coming since his hospitalisation at ICU of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department at AIIMS. 

"President Ram Nath Kovind phoned the family of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and inquired about his health. He wishes Vajpayee an early recovery," said the President of India's twitter handle.

"Praying for the speedy recovery of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji," Israel's Ambassador to India and Sri lanka Daniel Carmon tweeted from his personal account.