The health condition of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who underwent an appendectomy at the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre on Tuesday, is improving, according to doctors monitoring him.

In a medical bulletin issued by the centre’s executive director, Dr Uttam Krishna Shrestha said Oli remains in the intensive care unit for post-operative care and observation, but is able to speak normally.

Dr Arun Sayami, who has attended to Oli in the past and is regularly monitoring his health condition, said that doctors have removed Oli from temporary ventilator support. 

However, Surya Thapa, Oli’s press advisor, said that Oli had never been placed on a ventilator. It was simply in the ICU as a backup, he said, which is a regular practice for every post-op patient. In contrast, Thapa had earlier mentioned the ventilator during an interview with Kantipur TV.

“We’ve been helping him exercise and will make him sit up in a chair for some time today,” Sayami said.

Oli was taken to the centre early Tuesday, following complaints of severe stomach pain. A team led by Dr Ramesh Singh Bhandari removed Oli’s appendix after a series of tests showed complications. The hospitals said that the treatment was conducted as per laparotomy and appendectomy, following an expert team's diagnosis that the prime minister was suffering from appendicitis and peritonitis.

Peritonitis is an inflammation of a silk-like membrane on the inner abdominal wall and can be caused by a rupture of the abdomen or other medical complications. Appendicitis is caused by an inflammation of the appendix, and requires immediate surgery.

Doctors at the hospital have restricted visitors from meeting with the prime minister to prevent possible infections post-surgery. Oli is more prone to infections, as he has been taking immunosuppressant drugs ever since he got a kidney transplant in 2007 after both his kidneys failed.

Oli’s appendicitis came on the heels of his fourth round of dialysis at Grande International Hospital on Sunday.

Oli’s health has been a cause for concern ever since August, when he flew to Singapore for a medical checkup. While information regarding his health was kept under wraps, after his return, Oli declared publicly that he was fine. But last month, his health saw quick deterioration and was admitted to Grande International Hospital, where he underwent two rounds of dialysis.