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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
The information has just fallen: Pope Francis, 86, must be operated “in an emergency under general anesthesia” in Rome this Wednesday, for a “risk of intestinal obstruction”, according to information from the Vatican. A necessary surgery which will lead to several days of convalescence for the sovereign pontiff.
This is an announcement made by the Vatican this Wednesday, June 7: Pope Francis, 86, must be operated “in an emergency” and “under general anesthesia”, for a risk of “intestinal obstruction”.
An operation deemed to be “necessary”
This operation is therefore deemed “necessary” by the Vatican, whose medical team evokes an aggravation of the symptoms of Pope Francis, 86 years old.
But what exactly is he suffering from? The Pope risks intestinal obstruction due to a strangulated hernia. The operation, envisaged “in recent days” by the medical team assisting the Holy Father, “became necessary due to an incisional hernia that causes recurrent, painful and worsening subocclusive syndromes“explains the director of the press service of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.
“A hernia of this type occurs when part of the intestine passes through the abdominal scar, for example, between the muscles; we are talking about disembowelment. The risk is hernial strangulation with partial or total obstruction or occlusion of the intestine with necrosis. When the hernia becomes strangled, it causes pain, stopping of matter and gas. explains Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
#papafrancesco al finishes dell’Udienza Generale si è recato presso il Policlinico Universitario A. #Gemelli dove nel primo pomeriggio sarà sottoposto in anesthesia generale ad un intervento chirurgico di Laparotomy e plastica della parete addominale con protesi.
— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it) June 7, 2023
A surgery for which the sovereign pontiff will be hospitalized for several days
Faced with this situation, Pope Francis has no choice but to undergo surgery. “The hernia must be released, to allow the normal circulation of the transit. The muscle scar through which the bowel came out must also be closed.” adds Gérald Kierzek. “It’s a fairly commonplace surgery if it’s done on time. There remain the risks associated with anesthesia due to his age in particular, but which are under control and the reasons for the digestive surgery he had initially undergone”.
After the operation, the sovereign pontiff will benefit from “several days” of hospitalization, specifies the press release
A Pope who seems in good shape
Before going to the hospital, Francis appeared to the faithful in his popemobile, circled around St. Peter’s Square, visibly in good shape.
“At the end of the general audience, the Holy Father went to the Gemelli University Hospital, where, at the beginning of the afternoon, he will undergo a surgical operation of laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses, under general anesthesia” added Matteo Bruni.
Let us recall that two months ago, the Pope had been hospitalized for a respiratory infection, a “pneumonia” which had been treated “in time” according to his own words. “If we had waited a few more hours, it would have been much worse.” he confided then.
However, health and health has not yet caused any change in his agenda, his trip to Portugal for World Youth Day (WYD) in early August being maintained for the moment.