VATICAN CITY (RNS) – In an announcement from the Vatican, docs on the Gemelli Hospital in Rome the place Pope Francis is being handled for pneumonia and bronchitis say the pontiff suffered a respiratory disaster Saturday (Feb. 22), requiring an intervention to help his respiratory.
“The situations of the Holy Father proceed to be vital,” the assertion learn, including that the pope had a “extended asthmatic respiratory disaster” that necessitated the applying of high-flow oxygen.
Francis was additionally given blood transfusions, in accordance with the Vatican assertion, after blood assessments revealed he was affected by thrombocytopenia, that means the platelet rely in his blood was too low, a situation the docs mentioned is related to anemia. Infections and medical remedy could decrease platelet rely.
Regardless of the issues, the assertion mentioned that Francis was nonetheless alert and away from bed. “The Holy Father continues to be vigilant and spent the day in his armchair even when he was extra in ache than yesterday,” the assertion mentioned. “For the time being the prognosis is guarded.”
Francis admitted himself to the hospital Feb. 14 after combating bronchitis and experiencing issue respiratory for the earlier 10 days. On the time he was admitted, his docs mentioned he was affected by a polymicrobial an infection that brought about pneumonia in each lungs.
At 88 years previous, Francis is among the many oldest pontiffs to reign within the church’s historical past and has an extended historical past of respiratory sickness. As a youth in Argentina, he had a portion of his proper lung eliminated and has since then been prone to infections in his lungs and respiratory tract.
He has additionally intermittently suffered from sciatica, cataracts and persistent knee ache. Guests to the Vatican are accustomed to seeing the pope wrestle to stroll when not seated in a wheelchair. In current weeks he has allowed others to learn his homilies for him at Mass, and he has skipped his public audiences and weekly Angelus prayers.
At a information convention on the Gemelli Hospital on Friday, his docs had mentioned the pontiff was “not out of hazard,” including that whereas he had proven slight enchancment, he remained in a vital situation.
