Ariel Sharon: Encyclopedia II - Ariel Sharon - Health problems

Ariel Sharon - Health problems

In December 2005, Sharon spent two days in the hospital following reports of a minor stroke, specifically a relatively unusual type of stroke called a paradoxical embolism, in which a clot from the venous circulation crosses over into the arterial circulation through a hole between the right and left atrium called a patent foramen ovale or an atrial septal defect and goes to the brain, causing a transient speech and motor disturbance. He was to have had the small hole in his heart repaired by a cardiac catheterization procedure in January 5. [23]

However, on January 4, 2006, Sharon was again rushed to the hospital from his ranch, KHavat HaSHikmim, which is in the Negev region, apparently due to another stroke. Although Sharon was reported to be in stable condition, his doctors are calling this stroke "significant", adding that he "suffered a cerebral hemorrhage," which is bleeding in the brain. Sharon underwent seven hours of surgery to stop the bleeding and drain the accumulated blood. Sharon is currently recovering from his surgery in the hospital's intensive care unit, and is reported to be in critical (life-threatening) but stable condition. Earlier in the day, members of the media incorrectly reported that Sharon had died, after doctors at the hospital were prepared to announce his death. However, they were convinced by family and advisors to try, once again, to save his life. The extreme graveness of his situation has led some to say that his chance of survival may be extremely slim. "The complications, outside experts said, are life-threatening and make the prospect of survival still slimmer." [24]

On Friday, January 6, 2006 additional bleeding was detected in Sharon's brain. A third surgery was performed to try to stop this additional bleeding.

On Saturday, January 7, 2006 Sharon, unconscious and clinging to life, was in stable condition. According to one of his surgeons, Dr. Jesse Cohen, his chances for survival are "very high," but he likely will suffer some cognitive impairment[25]. Channel 2 TV quoted Dr. Cohen as saying he was "quite optimistic" about Sharon's chances of survival, but "to say after such a severe trauma as this that there will be no cognitive problems is simply not to recognize reality."

Prime Ministerial duties were transferred to Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is now Israel's Acting Prime Minister. In the early morning of January 5, it was reported that Sharon is not expected to fully recover, and may be partially paralyzed. [26]

According to the Israeli law, an Acting Prime Minister can remain in office 100 days before the President has to appoint a new Prime Minister. With the next general elections being less than 100 days from now (March 28, 2006), the question of long-term prime ministerial succession will be resolved in the ballot.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Health problems", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki