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PM’s knee surgery near Divali?

NEW DELHI, Sept 20 (UNI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to undergo a knee replacement surgery near Divali next month.

Sources said the operation by renowned NRI surgeon Chittaranjan Ranawat is likely to be carried out after the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, starting on October 2. The holidays near Divali are being considered as an appropriate time for the operation, they said.

Meanwhile, eminent orthopaedician and AIIMS Director P.K. Dave told UNI that the post-operative healing takes about 12 to 14 days and the patient is able to walk a bit from then. A patient has to spend about five days in the hospital. However, it could take up to a month-and-a-half for him to resume a regular routine.

According to doctors, a patient is able to function normally for about 10 to 12 years with the replaced knee.

Though the hospital where Mr Vajpayee would undergo surgery has not yet been decided upon, AIIMS is being considered seriously as the likely venue.

Dr Dave said a knee replacement surgery, done under general anaesthesia, is the job of a super specialist and the procedure can be carried out only in a modern operating theatre.