- Feb 5, 2002
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ROME (CNS) — For Pope Francis’ medical team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Feb. 28 was the worst day.
“For the first time I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the coordinator of his medical team, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“We were all aware that the situation had deteriorated further and there was a risk that he might not make it,” Alfieri said in the interview published March 25, two days after the pope was released from the hospital and returned to the Vatican.
The Vatican medical bulletin from Feb. 28 said: “The Holy Father, this afternoon, after a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm. This caused an episode of vomiting, which led to him inhaling some and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition.”
The doctors aspirated his airways and put him on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a machine that delivers air with added oxygen through a tightly fitted face mask and using positive pressure to assist breathing.
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
“For the first time I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the coordinator of his medical team, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“We were all aware that the situation had deteriorated further and there was a risk that he might not make it,” Alfieri said in the interview published March 25, two days after the pope was released from the hospital and returned to the Vatican.
The Vatican medical bulletin from Feb. 28 said: “The Holy Father, this afternoon, after a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm. This caused an episode of vomiting, which led to him inhaling some and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition.”
The doctors aspirated his airways and put him on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a machine that delivers air with added oxygen through a tightly fitted face mask and using positive pressure to assist breathing.
Continued below.
Pope knew he 'might not make it,' physician says
Pope Francis faced a critical health scare in February, but after 38 days in hospital, he returned to the Vatican, continuing his recovery.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
