By Maria Cheng, Associated Press
London (AP) – Friday marks three weeks since Pope Francis was hospitalized for bronchitis, which then led to double pneumonia. It has also been treated for a complex pulmonary infection and has undergone several respiratory attacks requiring additional treatment, including machines to help it breathe.
Doctors who are not involved in Pope’s care say that the coming road could be delicate, even if the 88 -year -old pope is fully recovered. Here is an overview of the hospitalization of the Pope and what doctors watch in the days and weeks to come.
Why was Pope Francis hospitalized in the first place?
The pope was hospitalized on February 14 after suffering from weeks of bronchitis which made him more difficult to speak. Several days later, the Vatican authorities said he had a complex infection in his respiratory system requiring more targeted treatment.
The Pope then developed pneumonia in both lungs and began to receive steroids and antibiotics, among other treatments.
How bad is it?
“It is an 88-year-old man who has been in the hospital and who has been receiving active care for three weeks,” said Dr. Andrew Chadwick, specialist in respiratory and intensive care at Oxford University Hospitals in Great Britain. “It is not a sign that things are fine.”
Chadwick said that anyone’s admission to the Francis age group for this long, is very worrying. “The upcoming road always looks jumper,” he said.
Francis’ doctors said he was in a stable state, but that his prognosis is kept, which means that he is not out of danger.
What are doctors particularly worried?
The number of respiratory crises, complications and dependence of the Pope with regard to machines to help him breathe that “pneumonia is more serious and requires more intensive support measures,” said Dr. Meredith McCormack, director of pulmonary medicine and intensive care at John Hopkins University.
“It seems that there are no signs of clear improvement and some continuous signs of severe infection, such as continuing to need oxygen,” said McCormack.
The Vatican authorities said that the Pope’s last respiratory crisis was on Monday and that things have been stabilized since then.
Other doctors have noted that the Francis is long in the hospital, the more it is sensitive to other complications, such as catheters, bed wounds or another episode of pneumonia.
Are there any encouraging signs that the Pope could improve?
Dr. Jeffrey Millstein, assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said that it was good that Francis did not need a mechanical fan. This would be the next probable step if he could not breathe well enough with the non -invasive support he has obtained so far.
Friday, the Vatican published a short audio clip of the Pope thanking people for their good wishes. Even if the pope’s voice seemed much lower than normal, McCormack said it was a welcome sign.
“This shows that he is still able to communicate significantly,” she said. “If you were on the support of life … you could not do that.”
How long can recovery?
A lot of time. McCormack said that for each week that a person spends in the hospital, it can take about a month of recovery time.
Dr. Eric Schmidt, chief of the division of pulmonary medicine and intensive care at the Massachusetts General Hospital, said that severe pneumonia can have lasting consequences.
“It’s not just a lung disease. This really has an impact on several parts of the body, “he said, explaining that people who have severe pneumonia can later suffer from problems, including memory loss, incapacity to concentrate, muscle weakness and depression.
Chadwick from Oxford University Hospitals said that experts hoped to see the Pope go from a very sick disease to receive rehabilitation therapy.
Since this week, Francis has received physical therapy to help his mobility, in addition to the respiratory physiotherapy he had received to help him breathe better.
“Even if he was today to improve miraculously, he probably needs a prolonged rehabilitation period,” said Chadwick. “The Pope will probably have to relax for a while and reduce some of his normal functions.”
Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
The Department of Health and Sciences of the Associated Press receives the support of the scientific and educational group of the media from the medical institute Howard Hughes and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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