PM Nawaz undergoes successful open heart surgery in London

By
GEO NEWS

May 31, 2016

PM Nawaz undergoes successful open heart surgery in London

LONDON/KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif successfully underwent open heart surgery at a private hospital in central London on Tuesday, the premier’s second cardiac procedure in five years, his family and hospital officials confirmed.

“Surgery successful by The Grace Of Almighty. The Prime Minister is off the pump now. Will be shifted to ICU in the next 60 mins or so,” Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz said in tweets sent out on Twitter.

Minutes earlier, she said that the procedure of grafting all arteries had been completed successfully, and that the operation may take another 60 to 90 minutes.

But at 4:17 PM (1217 UK time), about four hours after the surgery begun at the private clinic in central London, she confirmed that doctors had completed the operation successfully.

Hospital officials also confirmed to our correspondent in London, Murtaza Ali Shah, that the open heart surgery had been completed without any complications.

After the surgery the prime minister was taken off the ventilator and he breathed naturally. He has been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit where his family visited him. "When he saw me he raised a finger in the air, signifying that he will recover according to Allah's will," Shahbaz Sharif said speaking to the media.

"Alhamdulliah, he was very calm and in high spirits when he was taken to the operating room. He & family recited Quran before he went in for surgery,” Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz had told Geo News earlier today.

According to family members, the prime minister spoke to his mother over telephone before going into the operation theatre prior to the surgery. Family sources said Sharif informed his mother that he was feeling well and asked her to pray for his successful operation.

Close friends, family members, relatives and Sharif’s personal doctor were present during the surgery at the clinic where the prime minister was being treated. Sharif’s wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were also present in the waiting room at the hospital.

Family sources said PM Nawaz also hugged his brother before going to the operation theatre for the surgery.

According to our correspondent, the prime minister was expected to stay in intensive care for 5 to 6 hours following the surgery.

66-year-old Sharif left for London earlier this week for medical check-ups where his doctors decided to carry out the surgery.

The surgery was performed for "perforation of the heart", a complication from an earlier procedure in 2011, his daughter had said earlier.

On Monday, the prime minister's spokesperson Dr Musaddik Malik told reporters that Sharif would stay at the hospital for a few days after surgery and later he would be shifted home, he said.

The spokesman said that they would be kept updated about the details of the prime minister's treatment as well as schedule of PM's return as to be advised by the doctors.

Dr Musaddik Malik said the world's best doctors including the prime minister’s personal physicians were part of the medical team.

According to reports, PM Nawaz Sharif stayed the previous night at his son Hussain Nawaz's residence.

It is expected that 24 to 36 hours after the PM's surgery, he would be shifted back to his son's house from the hospital.

Photo shows PM Nawaz Sharif during an earlier check-up at a London clinic
Photo shows PM Nawaz Sharif during an earlier check-up at a London clinic

Prayers from well-wishers

Special prayers were offered by people ahead of the prime minister's surgery. Even Sharif's staunch opponent and political rival, PTI chief Imran Khan wished him health and a speedy recovery.

People from all over the world, including key world leaders and notable personalities, called the prime minister before the surgery to convey their well wishes.

Turkish president Tayyab Erdogan called PM Nawaz Sharif this morning and expressed his hope for his early recovery.

Pakistani education activist Malala Yousufzai also called the prime minister Tuesday morning and conveyed her prayers and well wishes for the prime minister and his quick recovery.

Sharif also spoke to his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi via from London on Monday. Vikas Swarup, spokesman for India’s External Affairs ministry, said on Twitter that Mr Modi received a phone call from Nawaz Sharif, and that the Indian prime minister wished his Pakistani counterpart a speedy recovery.

Doctors have advised PM Sharif to take a week long rest after his open heart surgery is completed successfully.

On Monday, the prime minister also presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council through video link from London to approve the budget for the fiscal year 2016-17. The prime minister has now signed all the documents related to the budget, his office said.

Sharif’s spokesperson said the prime minister did not allow his illness to come in the way of fulfillment of his official responsibilities and chaired the meetings of the federal cabinet and NEC through video link just 14 hours before his heart surgery.

Malik said the prime minister was in high spirit and chaired the cabinet meeting just 14 hours before his surgery to save every single minute of the nation.