Re: Breaking News
Updated: 3:57 p.m. ET Feb. 24, 2005VATICAN CITY -<br /><br /> Doctors have successfully completed an operation on Pope John Paul II to help ease his breathing problems, the Vatican reported Thursday, just hours after the pontiff was rushed to hospital for the second time in a month after suffering fever and congestion from a recurrence of the flu. <br /><br />The pope underwent a tracheotomy, a procedure in which a hole is made in the throat and a tube is inserted to assist breathing, Italian news agencies said. <br /><br />While the procedure itself is typically short and not complicated, what follows could indicate the state of the pope's health, NBC medical correspondent Robert Bazell said. If the tracheotomy is performed to allow a breathing tube to be connected to a ventilator, then that could be a sign of a serious condition. <br /><br />Dr. Mark Rosen of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York concurred, telling MSNBC-TV that the procedure itself was not a cause for concern, but that the underlying condition that required the procedure could be. Others have speculated that condition could be pneumonia. <br /><br />The pontiff was hospitalized earlier Thursday, a day after the pontiff made his longest public appearance since being discharged from the clinic two weeks ago.<br /><br />The 84-year-old pontiff was rushed by ambulance to Gemelli Polyclinic hospital after the return of flu symptoms Wednesday afternoon. He was hospitalized for the necessary specialized assistance and further tests, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said.<br /><br />Papal resignation possible, but rare.<br /><br />Pneumonia?<br />Aides said the pope had a fever, congestion and had suffered a recurrence of breathing problems. <br /><br />Dr. Barbara Paris, chairwoman of geriatrics and vice-chairwoman of Medicine at Maimonides Medical Center in New York, said that while she hasn't seen the pope his symptoms appeared to be consistent with pneumonia. <br /><br />It appears the pope is suffering from pneumonia, likely a bacterial pneumonia, a serious problem for a man of his age with Parkinsons, she said. <br /><br />The popes breathing problems can complicate the swallowing difficulties characteristic of Parkinsons disease. The lack of coordination of the muscles involved make it easy for food or saliva to get into the lungs. That can cause pneumonia and is one of the most common causes of death among Parkinsons patients. <br /><br />Doctors sometimes bypass the throat by inserting a feeding tube directly into the stomach, both to help patients who have difficulty eating and to help prevent food going down to the lungs. <br /><br />The muscle problems and the popes stooped posture also could make it difficult for him to head off infections by mustering a powerful enough cough to shake mucus out of the lungs. <br /><br />'Same symptoms'<br />The Italian news agency ANSA reported that the pope arrived conscious and was taken inside in a stretcher. It quoted people who saw him enter the hospital as saying his face looked quite relaxed. <br /><br />The first medical bulletin on the pope's condition was not expected until Friday morning, a Vatican source told Reuters.<br /><br />He had the same symptoms as last time, including fever and some breathing difficulties, the source said.<br /><br />The pope failed to show up Thursday morning for a scheduled meeting on new candidates for sainthood. No explanation was given for his absence and the ceremony went ahead, presided over by the Vaticans No. 2 official, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.<br /><br />The pope had been convalescing after his hospitalization but had seemed to be making a strong rebound, appearing twice at the window of his studio at the Vatican to greet pilgrims.<br /><br />On Wednesday, the pope wheezed and looked gaunt but managed to make his longest public appearance since leaving the hospital. The Vatican originally had planned for the frail pontiff to address pilgrims in St. Peters Square from his apartment window, but decided instead on a video hookup because of the rain and winds.<br /><br />Spoke to pilgrims Wednesday<br />The change was in line with the caution the Vatican has been showing since John Paul was rushed to the hospital Feb. 1 with breathing difficulties following a bout with the flu.<br /><br />The Wednesday audience lasted 30 minutes the longest time he has appeared in public since returning to the Vatican on Feb. 10. Fully alert, he waved and gave his blessing at the end.<br /><br />He was seen speaking in a hoarse voice but otherwise looking fairly well, he read a three-paragraph address and then greeted the pilgrims in six languages, including his native Polish.<br /><br /><br />When John Paul was discharged from the hospital, the Vatican made clear he would decide on his schedule in consultation with his doctors. <br /><br />Retirement?<br />Because of his ailments, there has long been speculation that John Paul might consider resigning. That debate was fueled during his hospitalization when Cardinal Sodano declined to rule out that possibility, saying it was up to the popes conscience.<br /><br />In a speech on Sunday, the pope said the essential task of the papacy was to ensure the unity of the Church, adding that the call to guard his flock was particularly alive in him. <br /><br />Vatican watchers said the comments were an indication that the pontiff was determined to carry on in charge of the 1.1 billion-strong Church and had no intention of retiring.
