A week has passed since Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli University Hospital to undergo a laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prosthesis. This operation, which went very well, according to the medical team that attended the Pope, has been followed by a few days of postoperative admission in which there have been no complications.
The absence of fever, a good night's rest and the progressive recovery of the Pope have been the constant during this week.
– Supernatural intervention of the pontiff was caused by an "incarcerated laparocele", that is, a type of hernia that forms in a scar, and which causes, among other things, intestinal obstructions, such as those that the Pope had suffered for several months, as acknowledged in the note issued by the Vatican Press Office, after the operation that was performed by laparotomy.
In addition, "during the surgical intervention tenacious adhesions were found between some partially congested middle intestinal loops and the parietal peritoneum". A scenario that led the doctors to release these adhesions and to a repair "by plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with the help of a prosthetic mesh".
Although the operation itself is not too serious and discharge is near, the pope will probably have to wear some type of girdle to aid healing.
Work, reading and prayer
During these days of admission, one of the main positive news has been the absence of fever, indicating that there have been no infections or subsequent problems. During these days, the Pope has undergone "hematochemical controls" which were "regular" and "continues with respiratory physiotherapy".
Moreover, Francis continued to work, within his means, during his hospital stay. In fact, the continuous Vatican reports on the Pope's health have emphasized that the pontiff has dedicated himself to work and to reading books during these days.
During these days, the Pope was able to receive Holy Communion both in his room for the first two days and in the chapel in his area of the hospital. Since the doctors allowed him to leave his room, the Pope has been able to pray in this chapel, especially before noon. In the same chapel he prayed, privately, the Angelus last Sunday.
The information issued by the Vatican, after a week of admission highlights that "the clinical course (of the Pope) is developing without complications, so he is planning his discharge for the next few days".
