JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's failure to wake up from a coma nine days after suffering a massive stroke does not bode well for his recovery, some doctors said Friday. Sharon, 77, remained in "critical but stable" condition Friday, showing no change from the previous day, said Hadassah Hospital spokesman Ron Krumer.Israel's Channel 10 TV and Army Radio cited Hadassah officials as saying they were worried Sharon has shown no signs of awakening, even though doctors have begun weaning him off heavy sedatives used to keep his blood pressure in check and give his brain time to heal.
However, Krumer and outside experts cautioned it's too early to make conclusions about Sharon's long-term prospects. He's still receiving minimal amounts of sedatives, Krumer said, adding, "The period of time it takes a patient to wake up from such a condition after undergoing such an event differs from one patient to another."
Although doctors induced a coma, the condition may also be due to the Jan. 4 stroke itself.
Channel 1 TV cited one of Sharon's neurosurgeons, Dr. Felix Umansky, as saying he was optimistic Sharon would emerge from his coma within 10 days.
But several outside experts said the prognosis looked poor. "People can often wake up over a period of weeks and months but if they wake up faster obviously it bodes better," said Dr. Howard Riina, professor of neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. "The fact that he's not completely awake at this point does not bode well for a good neurologic recovery."
Dr. Nick Ward, a neurologist at London's University College, was more blunt. "It's a bad prognostic indicator," he said. "He's not going to get back to normal, that's for sure."
| He's more likely to be correct. This is bad news. |
A brain scan on Thursday showed the remnants of blood in his brain have been absorbed, the hospital said. In response, doctors removed a tube they had inserted into his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. The longer it takes for Sharon to regain consciousness, however, the greater the concern about extensive brain damage.