Press Briefing by Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, Director General
Hadassah University Medical Center
January 11, 2006
5:00 PM
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been hospitalized at Hadassah for 39 days now, after experiencing a brain episode. He has been comatose since that time and continues to remain so.
Yesterday [Friday], the doctors attending Prime Minister Sharon diagnosed a swelling of his abdomen. To verify their diagnosis, they conducted a CT scan of the abdomen, which showed that there was damage to his intestine. After consultation with Prime Minister Sharon’s two sons, the Prime Minister was taken to the operating room where first, surgeons performed a laparoscopy to ascertain the extent of the damage. At this stage, Mr. Sharon’s life was in danger. During the subsequent operation, surgeons removed one-third of the large intestine; a 20" section on the right side, which is connected to the small intestine.
There were no complications during the operation, and no change was recorded in the basic parameters such as blood pressure or pulse. After the operation Prime Minister Sharon was taken to the general intensive care unit.
It is important to note that Prime Minister Sharon’s main problem is the fact that he is still in coma, and not his abdomen. This newer problem is an additional one. There has been no significant change in Mr. Sharon’s condition during the last ten days. The situation is serious, it is stable, it is critical, but there is no immediate danger to the life of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Q: Do you see a connection between the Prime Minister’s immobile condition and this recent event?
A: This morning's event is a type of event we see in unconscious patients who have little blood flow to the intestine because they are prone for too long. There is a connection but not a direct one. The cause was not a blood clot. The damage may have been caused by an infection or the diminished blood flow to the intestine.
Q: If Prime Minister Sharon wakes up, what is the impact of removing part of his intestine? Do you need to check the intestine area once again?
A: Removing part of the intestine is a routine procedure conducted in every hospital by the general surgery department. It is not a dramatic procedure and it is usually performed electively. Patients who have undergone only this procedure usually return to full functioning. We are constantly monitoring the activity of the intestine and if there is a need, we will check it again ,of course.
Q: Which artery was blocked?
A: No artery was blocked. This was not a problem of occlusion of blood vessels.
Q:
A: As you all know, the behaviour of human mind is mysterious to you as well as to us. Obviously, every day the chances of Prime Minister Sharon waking up become smaller. Clearly, the event he underwent today does not add to these chances.