Hadassah Hospital: Ariel Sharon in stable condition after surgery
Surgeons replaced a section of Sharon's skull to prepare him for a move to a chronic care facility.
By Tamara Traubman and Ran Reznick Haaretz Service, agenciesPrime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent a successful operation to repair surgical damage to his skull on Wednesday, according to a statement by Hadassah University Hospital in Ein Karem, Jerusalem.
The operation was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but the procedure was delayed because of a respiratory infection, hospital officials said.
"The surgery that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was supposed to have yesterday took place today and ended successfully a short while ago," Hadassah Hospital said in a statement. It said Sharon was taken back to his room in the intensive care unit, where he has been hospitalized since suffering a massive stroke on January 4.
Surgeons replaced a section of Sharon's skull which was removed in an initial emergency operation to allow access to damaged portions of his brain.
The operation is intended to prepare the comatose Sharon for a move to a chronic care facility, possibly Loewenstein Hospital Rehabilitation Center in Ra'anana, the rehabilitation department at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, or following special preparation, to his home at Sycamore Ranch.
The operation was the eighth undergone by Sharon since his stroke on January 4. The decision to transfer Sharon to another facility was based on the lack of improvement in his condition.
"I don't think this is a complicated procedure. It can also be assumed that his situation allows this and that it could be a positive sign that they decided to do this," said Haim Ring ahead of the procedue. Ring is the head of the neurological department in Levinstein Rehabilitation Hospital, where many stroke patients are treated after the initial recovery period.
"It doesn't in my opinion have any significance regarding his active abilities," Ring told Army Radio, noting that Sharon will not receive rehabilitative treatment in the near future.
It is more likely, Ring said, that Sharon will be transferred to a hospital where he could receive care and assistance.
Neurologists have said it is highly unlikely that Sharon will awaken from the coma.
Hadassah said it has not yet been decided when or if to transfer the prime minister.
Sharon's doctors decided to operate at a consultation last Wednesday with neurological specialists Prof. Moshe Hadani, chief of neurology at Sheba hospital, Tel Hashomer, and Prof. Tzvi Rapapport, chief of neurology at Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva.
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Dave's words were beautifully direct, I have nothing to add, but agreement.
"if you will it, it is not a dream." Ariel Sharon was true to this principle even as peace was signed with Egypt and he could see the writing on the wall, so to speak, and tried to salvage what he could. However, the conflict would not go away, and we are where we are now. Mr. Sharon is in the care of the best physicians of Israel and his children are trying their best for their father. Am Yisrael Chai.
Iran. Selah!
My Dad died after suffering a massive stroke that put him in a vegetative state. We thank G-d for taking him away soon instead of having him suffer. I wish Mr. Sharon the best.
If he had been an ordinary man, he would have been allowed to die. An ordinary patient of the same age would not have been given a surgical option for such a massive stroke, they would have died. the repeated surgeries for a man of nearly 80 would have been a waste of medical resources to someone else's beloved grandparent. Either they would have died, remained in a coma or have woken up eventually to a life of limited comprehension and movement. OK, so up until the Gerush, sharon was a great man, now he's just a body taking up valuable space in a hospital ward. They should give him the same options as any person would have received.
Let us remember him for his legacy--a Jewish state on a fair territory and (someday) a palestinian one on Gaza and part of the West Bank. It's better than we deserve!
He was a great guy, we all miss him, or not, but enough already. We do not need to know every time he has a haircut or his sheets changed.
Doctors should leave you alone already. If you had been an ordinary man of the street, you would probably be enjoying life. Since you are Mr. Sharon, all those doctors just messed things up and they keep on erring. Sorry Lily isn't here to put a stop to all this nonsense. Our prayers are with you.
All the best.
God, please put Ariel out of his misery. Either wake him up or bring him to you. Ariel Sharon is a great man.