PUNE: Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman ’s condition worsened on Sunday following which he has been put on ventilator support. Laxman, who was taken off the ventilator on Thursday, was showing signs of improvement since the last three days.

“He suddenly developed severe breathlessness around 8pm on Sunday following which we had to put him on ventilator support again. Besides, we had to discontinue his dialysis as he is unable to tolerate the therapy now. Currently, his condition is very critical,” said intensivist Sameer Jog, who has been treating Laxman since his admission to Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital on January 17 following urinary tract infection and kidney failure.

For more than three days Laxman was breathing on his own, which, the doctors considered ‘a good sign’. Besides, he was maintaining blood pressure with a lesser drug dose and his creatinine level had restored to normal counts.

His blood pressure and cardiac function had also improved but he was on dialysis as his kidney function remained sub-optimal. Besides, there had been some improvement in his level of consciousness as well. Laxman has other underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. He had suffered a stroke some years ago.