Jagjit Singh's condition critical but stable: Docs
Sumitra Deb RoySumitra Deb Roy | Sep 25, 2011, 02.15AM IST


MUMBAI: Ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, who was admitted to Lilavati Hospital, is recuperating after two life-saving surgeries. Authorities said om Saturday that his condition was critical yet stable, and has to be closely monitored for the next 48 hours.

Industry sources said Singh suffered an intracranial hemorrhagic stroke, or bleeding within the skull. "We were told by the doctors treating him that this kind of bleeding could occur when a blood vessel within the skull is broken or leaking," said a source.

The 70-year-old singer has been suffering from high blood pressure, a known cause for hemorrhagic strokes, for some time now. Singh was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital at 3am on Friday in an unconscious state.

Till Saturday afternoon, Singh was operated on twice by a team of doctors, and the pressure on the skull released. Experts say such a surgery is called decompressing or evacuation surgery. "The clot is removed after opening up the skull," said Dr Vishwanathan Iyer, consultant endovascular neurosurgeon, Kohinoor Hospital.

Hospital authorities declined to comment on the treatment protocol or his ailment. "Singh has been operated for brain haemorrhage. He is stable. His family would not like to disclose more details," said the spokesperson of Lilavati Hospital. Singh is on ventilator, the spokesperson added.

City doctors said his heart condition could have a remote connection with the stroke. In 1998, Singh suffered a heart attack following which, doctors believe, he may be on blood thinners that could cause bleeding.

On Saturday, "There have been cases, though rare, where blood thinners have shown potential chance of causing more bleeding," said Iyer. Industry sources say that earlier in 2007 too, Singh had to be hospitalised following blood circulation issues.

Singers Anup Jalota and Ghulam Ali visited Singhat the hospital. Singh and his singer wife Chitra shot to limelight in the 70s with their ghazals. He went on to win the Padma Bhushan award in 2003.