Oh great finally the whole Shiavo things looks to be ending and NOW we'll be fitting on pulling the tube from the pope NEXT...when will it end!!!!!
<g> Adam H On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 19:26:06 -0700, Dana <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11270248.htm > > Posted on Wed, Mar. 30, 2005 > > Pope getting some nutrition through tube, Vatican says > > BY LIZ SLY > > Chicago Tribune > > ROME - (KRT) - Pope John Paul II is receiving added nutrition through > a tube in his nose, the Vatican announced Wednesday, acknowledging for > the first time that the pontiff's recovery from throat surgery has > been slow. > > The pope, who is breathing through a tube in his throat, was fitted > with the feeding tube after widespread reports that he has been having > difficulty swallowing food. > > The announcement came two hours after the pope made another brief > appearance at the window of his apartment, during which he struggled, > but failed, to speak to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for > his regular weekly audience. > > Just as he did Easter Sunday, the pope tried to speak, but all he > managed was a few rasping grunts before a hand pulled his microphone > away. He also appeared to have difficulty controlling his movements - > his head lolled and his neck twitched. > > But he managed to make the sign of the cross to bless the crowd, while > a bishop read the customary greeting in several languages. > > The Vatican didn't say when the tube was inserted, but there was no > sign of it during his four-minute appearance at the study window. > Medical experts said a nasal feeding tube, which would typically > remain in place between meals, would have been visible had it been > present. > > This latest twist to the saga of the 84-year old pope's health > problems brought closer the possibility that the Vatican may one day > have to grapple with the dilemmas posed by a permanently incapacitated > pontiff. Although the Vatican said the pope spoke before he left the > hospital March 13, he has not spoken publicly since. > > The Vatican portrayed the tube's insertion as another step toward his > recuperation from the tracheostomy performed two weeks ago to > alleviate breathing difficulties he experienced after coming down with > influenza. "To improve the calorie intake and encourage a complete > recovery of strength, feeding has begun through the positioning of a > nasal gastric probe," said the statement issued by the pope's > spokesman, Joaquin Navarro Valls. > > The communique was less upbeat than previous ones, however, and for > the first time the Vatican used the word "slow" in reference to the > pope's recuperation. > > The pontiff is continuing his "slow and progressive convalescence," > Valls said. "He spends many hours of the day in his armchair, he > celebrates Mass in his private chapel and he has working contact with > his collaborators." > > The statement also said that all the pope's public engagements for the > coming weeks have been "suspended." > > It was the first time the Vatican has reported on the pope's health in > about three weeks, and the silence has fueled speculation that his > recovery has lagged. > > The Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported Monday that the pope > would soon be readmitted to the hospital to have a feeding tube > inserted into his stomach. > > A similar tube was used to feed Terri Schiavo of Florida, before it > was removed. Schiavo is dying slowly of dehydration and starvation. > > The Vatican has spoken forcefully against the withdrawal of Schiavo's > food and water, and the pontiff has been clear on the broader subject, > saying that feeding tubes constitute a "proportionate" and > "obligatory" means of keeping otherwise disabled patients alive. > > In a speech last year at an international conference on treatments for > patients such as Schiavo, the pope said: "I should like particularly > to underline how the administration of water and food, even when > provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of > preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be > considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such > morally obligatory." > > In the pope's case, the nasal feeding tube is a less invasive > procedure than the one used in the abdominal application and is > usually intended to be temporary. A plastic tube is inserted through > the nose, down the esophagus and into the stomach, enabling processed > food to be delivered directly to the stomach, medical experts said. > > The tube is uncomfortable, but it does not prevent movement. Given > that the pope's mobility is already restricted by Parkinson's disease, > the tube is unlikely to significantly impede his activity, said Gianni > Pezzoli, a neurologist who heads the Italian Parkinson's Association > in Milan. > > "The fact you have the tube does not tie you to the bed. You are able > to move around. The little tube is often blocked on the nose with a > piece of tape," he said. "Besides, the fact is that the pope is no > longer very agile in any case." > > Whether the pope will recover his ability to eat normally will depend > in part on the causes of his swallowing difficulties. If they are > linked solely to his recent throat operation, the extra nourishment > may help him recover his strength and aid the healing process. > > But if his swallowing difficulties are caused by the muscle > degeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, he may never be able > to eat properly again, medical experts said. > > Pezzoli said he suspects muscle degeneration is involved. > > "It is clear that the decision to apply the tube is also due to the > fact that the pope is suffering from neurological difficulties that > affect his deglutition (swallowing), as a consequence of the Parkinson > disease he is suffering from," he said. > > If that is the case, it may soon become necessary to perform the more > drastic procedure of inserting a tube directly into his stomach, > because the nasal tube will, over time, cause ulceration and infection > in the stomach and the esophagus, said Luisa Riccardi, a > gastroenterologist at Perugia Hospital. > > Normally, a nasal tube can be left in place 7 to 10 days, after which > it can be replaced if there are no complications. But in the case of > weakened patients with muscle degeneration, such as the pope, a nasal > feeding tube is often inserted as a prelude to the more drastic > stomach operation, called a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, she > said. > > Riccardi suspects doctors have prescribed a period of nasal feeding to > help build the pope's strength in preparation for the stomach > operation. > > The stomach tube also wouldn't confine the pope to bed. "It is a more > practical, efficient and suitable feeding system in the long term," > Pezzoli said. But it is also, usually, irreversible. > > "Whoever has this procedure performed, it is for a permanent purpose," > he said. "It is rarely reversible." > > --- > > (Alessandra Maggiorani contributed to this report.) > > --- > > (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. 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