Common Man's cartoonist, RK Laxman, is on mechanical ventilator

95-year-old cartoonist RK Laxman's medical condition still remains critical, the doctors said on Monday. Laxman was admitted on Saturday last week to Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital in Pune.

"He is on mechanical ventilator, on drugs to maintain his blood pressure as well as on Renal Replacement Therapy," said Dr Sameer Jog, intensivist at the hospital.

Laxman has suffered from a multi-organ failure and his kidneys had ceased to function. He is also suffering from infection in the lungs. Dr Aditya Bhabe, a Consultant Nephrologist with the hospital is supervising his renal therapy.

"Currently his medical condition is  critical  but he is holding on. His pulse, blood pressure, oxygen, carbon dioxide, electrolytes and glucose concentrations in blood are stable. But, he is not in a conscious state. He is under close observation of Team of Intensivists in Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital's ICU," said Dr Jog.

Laxman was suffering from a urinary infection and eventually had a multi-organ failure. He had undergone dialysis treatment on Saturday as his kidneys had failed.

In 2010, Laxman had suffered from strokes that had affected the right side of his body and slurred his speech. However, he continued to sketch his iconic signature cartoon of 'the common man,' over the past fifty years and even after suffering from stroke that prevented him from talking much. Even though he continues to be an employee of The Times of India at the ripe old age, he had ceased to sketch political cartoons after his health started failing.