ITALY: DOCTORS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL FOLLOWING EMERGENCY SURGERY ON THROAT

Record ID: 647615

  • Title: ITALY: DOCTORS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL FOLLOWING EMERGENCY SURGERY ON THROAT
  • Date: 24th February 2005
  • Summary: (BN16) ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 24, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (NIGHT SCENES) 1. WIDE OF EXTERIOR GEMELLI HOSPITAL 0.11 2. WIDE OF HOSPITAL SPOKESMAN NICOLA CERBINO HANDING OUT WRITTEN STATEMENT TO JOURNALISTS 0.17 3. CLOSE OF PRESS RELEASE 0.21 4. SLV (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) HOSPITAL SPOKESMAN NICOLA CERBINO READING STATEMENT, SAYING: "The influenza syndrome, which necessitated the hospitalisation of the Holy Father in the Gemelli hospital this morning, had in the past few days undergone complications with fresh episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency caused by a pre-existing stenosis (constriction) of the larynx. This clinical framework gave rise to the need for an elective tracheotomy to guarantee adequate breathing of the patient and to help resolve the laryngeal pathology. The holy father, who was informed, gave his consent. The operation, which began at 8:20 pm (1920 gmt) and ended at 8:50 pm (1950 gmt), was carried out and ended successfully. The immediate post-operative progress is regular. The Holy Father will spend the night in his (regular) hospital room. 2.30 5. SLV CERBINO WALKING AWAY 2.42 6. VARIOUS OF SOUNDBITE (Italian) GIANNI LETTA, UNDERSECRETARY OF PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SAYING: "I bring the welcome and good wishes of the Italian government and I believe of all the Italian people. I found him very serene and calm I talked to the doctors and... 5.28 7. SLV LETTA WALKING OFF 5.45 8. WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL AT NIGHT 5.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th March 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA8NEUU3RKPHOAEO3O89TWUEA6Z
  • Story Text: Doctors are "very satisfied" with how Pope John Paul
    withstood surgery on his throat.




    Doctors are "very satisfied" with how Pope John Paul
    withstood surgery, a top Italian government official said
    on Thursday (February 24) after visiting the hospital and
    speaking to physicians.

    "Doctors are very satisfied with how the Pope withstood surgery
    and
    with the first few hours of the immediate
    post-operative period," Gianni Letta, a top aide to Prime
    Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.

    Letta spoke to reporters after being briefed by doctors
    and papal aides about the Pontiff's condition after a
    30-minute
    operation to help him breathe.

    Surgeons at Rome's Gemelli hospital had performed a
    tracheotomy on the Pontiff, cutting a small opening into his
    neck and windpipe to allow air to flow directly into the
    lungs.

    The operation lasted 30 minutes, starting at 8:20 p.m.

    (1920 GMT) and ending at 8:50 p.m. (1950 GMT).

    The Pope, who gave his consent for the operation, will
    spend the night in his hospital room, the statement added,
    implying he did not need to be treated in an intensive care
    ward.

    The 84-year-old Pope was rushed to hospital earlier on
    Thursday for the second time this month after suffering
    renewed
    breathing problems and a relapse of the flu.

    Earlier in the day, senior churchmen urged the faithful
    to pray for the man who has led the 1.1-billion member
    Church for 26 years and has made personal suffering a
    byword of the last years of his papacy.

    The ailing Pope had been expected to attend a ceremony
    on Thursday morning to approve sainthood decrees, which
    took place in the frescoed Clementia Hall metres (yards)
    from his private study in the Apostolic Palace.

    His health then took yet another turn for the worse and
    doctors ordered his immediate transfer by ambulance to the
    Gemelli hospital, some 4 km (2.5 miles) from the Vatican.

    A security guard said the Pope was conscious and
    resting on a partly raised stretcher as he was wheeled into
    the Gemelli at 10:45 a.m. (0945 GMT). A passer-by told Sky
    Italia television that he had waved to people as he entered
    the clinic.

    The deterioration of the Pope's health will revive
    fears throughout the Catholic world that one of the most
    historic
    pontificates is nearing an end.

    It was the 10th time that John Paul had to be treated
    at the Gemelli since becoming Pope on October 16, 1978.


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