Pope Francis experiences respiratory crisis, condition remains critical
PTC News Desk: Pope Francis, who has been hospitalised for over a week experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen, Vatican news reported on Sunday.
As per Vatican News, Pope Francis had a peaceful ninth night at Rome's Gemelli Hospital where he is being treated for double pneumonia.
The Vatican News said that the blood tests conducted on Sunday revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions.
It noted that Pope Francis however remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more fatigued than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded.
The doctors noted that there is a risk that germs in the Pope's respiratory tract might enter his bloodstream, causing sepsis. Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of the team taking care of the Pope, and Dr Luigi Carbone, the Vice Director of the Vatican's healthcare service, said that they believed the Pope would be hospitalised for "at least" the entirety of the next week, and that Pope Francis is not "in danger of death," but he's also not fully "out of danger."
Dr Alfieri emphasised that the Pope is not attached to a ventilator, although he is still struggling with his breathing and consequently keeping his physical movements limited.
- PTC NEWS
