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Friday, April 13, 2007
First Gentleman's condition improving: doctors
MANILA -- From "50-50" on Wednesday, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's physicians on Thursday boosted his chances of survival to "75 to 80 percent."
Heart surgeon Rommel Cariño said that from a surgical point of view, there appears to be no indications that any post-operation complications may occur.
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"Yung 50-50 siguro ngayon nasa (From 50-50, by now it is) 75-80. Isa na lang organ gusto naming ma-maximize ang function bago naming masabi (There is just one organ whose functions we need to maximize before we can say) he is on the road to recovery)," Cariño told reporters at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City where Arroyo is recuperating after undergoing open heart surgery late Monday.
But he said that before doctors can pronounce the First Gentleman on the road to recovery, "we have to monitor many other vital organs."
Cariño also said Arroyo will "need to stay in the recovery room for intensive care management and monitoring."
When asked if Arroyo is out of danger, his reply was guarded: "Relatively maari nating masabi nang ganoon (Relatively speaking we can say that)."
Attending physician Juliet Cervantes said they expect to wean Arroyo from a ventilator machine by Friday.
Cervantes also said only immediate family members are allowed to visit the First Gentleman for now.
"We will be gradually waking him up. Dahan-dahan alis sa ventilator (We will gradually wean him from the ventilator)," she said.
"We have passed the 48 critical hours. However, we are still on guard. The situation is still guarded for any possible problem," said Cervantes, who appeared with other members of the medical team.
Cervantes also said compared to the First Gentleman's situation in the last two days, "mas maganda ngayon (his condition is better now)."
She said Arroyo's brain and other vital organs are "basically okay."
Cervantes also said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is free to leave St. Luke's whenever she has to attend to something. She said Arroyo has an appointment outside the SLMC at 10 a.m. Thursday.
"She (Arroyo) just opted to stay because she wants to," she added.
A "haggard-looking" President Arroyo left St. Luke's Thursday morning.
Radio station dzBB reported that Arroyo left the hospital shortly before 9 a.m., passing through its rear entrance. A reporter described her as haggard looking.
The report described Arroyo as wearing a casual blue suit, and said she likely went to Malacañang for a "change of clothes" and would return immediately.
Arroyo has been holding office at St. Luke's since Tuesday.
Before noon Thursday, President Arroyo returned to St. Luke's after meeting with members of her Cabinet in Malacañang.
Radio station dzEC reported that Arroyo smiled and waved at reporters in the Palace while radio station dzBB reported that she returned to the hospital through the back entrance.
President Arroyo has yet to decide on whether to push through with her visit to China on April 20 to 25 amid the health condition of her husband.
During the ambush interview, Arroyo thanked supporters for their prayers. She then returned to the hospital's presidential suite at the fifth floor, where she temporarily holds office.
Security was tight at the hospital with presidential guards frisking visitors. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (April 13, 2007 issue)
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