Date:18/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/18/stories/2006021818430400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Aarti Agarwal's condition improves

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The condition of Telugu actress Aarti Agarwal, who was admitted to Apollo Hospital here on Thursday with injuries sustained allegedly due to a fall, has improved but is still in a critical state.

Hospital officials said Ms. Agarwal's condition was being closely monitored in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she was undergoing treatment. Apollo Hospitals vice president (Medical Services) K. Hari Prasad told reporters here that the actress was operated upon on Thursday for the removal of a clot from the brain and that the fracture in her right leg was fixed.

After a thorough assessment by a team of doctors on Friday, the ventilator support given to her after Thursday's surgery was withdrawn. "Since then, she has been breathing adequately on her own and maintaining vital parameters. Her level of consciousness improved compared to Thursday but she is yet to regain full consciousness and coherence," Dr. Hari Prasad said.

The actress is expected to be under constant vigil in the ICU at least for the next 72 hours, doctors said.