Nawaz advised life-saving implants

LAHORE: Former premier Nawaz Sharif was brought to a private hospital in Gulberg Wednesday afternoon for conducting further medical tests including the analysis of erratic heartbeats, blockade in artery, MRI of chest and some others. His doctors have decided to implant a pacemaker in his chest to regulate the erratic heartbeats. According to his doctors, Nawaz was not taken to Sharif Medical City Hospital because the MRI equipment had developed some technical problem. The PML-N supremo remained at hospital for over two hours for the examinations and his physician Dr Adnan and other doctors also accompanied him.

His daughter Maryam kept informing people about the developments through her twitter account. In a tweet, she said, “Yes, doctors have recommended a Backup Pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator), a lifesaving device implanted in the body for patients at risk for fatal cardiac Arrhythmias”. In another tweet, she said, “MNS’s labs/scans/investigations to be completed by the end of this week or early next week. Specialists concerned are being consulted. We should have a clearer picture of his health status & the procedures he needs subsequently.”

In yet another tweet, she said, “Y’day (Yesterday) MNS had echo & ultrasound for kidneys along with Doppler studies for carotid arteries & peripheral vessels. Substantial stenosis detected on Carotid Doppler Studies. Undergoing today MRI/MRA for Carotids (Arteries supplying blood to brain) & Renals to further investigate.” She added, “Will also have CT Scan for kidneys today. Earlier at the Services Hospital it was diagnosed & documented that MNS has significant Carotid Artery Stenosis and Peripheral Arterial Disease, widespread thickening and narrowing of vessels,” one of her tweet reads.

Nawaz’s doctors said the physicians at Sharif Medical Hospital performed echocardiogram to assess blood supply to different parts of the body. The test detected less blood supply to the upper portion of his neck and brain. They said blood supply to neck and brain could prove dangerous if dropped to 34 percent, and could lead to heart attack. In view of the serious conditions, doctors decided to carry out MRI of heart and kidneys. Doctors also prescribed Doppler test for assessing blood flow in arteries and to different parts of the body. They also decided to carry out CT Scan of chest and backbone and computed tomography of kidneys, ureters and bladder (CT KUB) for assessing the concentration of stones.

Nawaz was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail eight days ago after the Supreme Court granted him bail for six weeks to obtain medical treatment in the country. When Nawaz was brought to Gulberg hospital amid elaborate security arrangements, large number of party workers reached there, but the police did not let them meet him. The charged party workers shouted slogans against the government.