Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery Saturday after an abdominal scan revealed severe damage to his digestive tract, and hospital officials said his life was in danger. It was the seventh surgery for the 77-year-old Israeli leader since he suffered a devastating stroke Jan. 4. He has been in a coma since then, attached to breathing and feeding tubes."Sharon's life is in danger," said Yael Bossem-Levy, spokeswoman for Hadassah Hospital where he is being treated. His condition is now "very serious, or critical," she said. An abdominal scan Saturday revealed problems with the blood flow to his intestines and that his digestive tract had suffered severe damage, Bossem-Levy said. The restricted blood flow raised the possibility of necrosis, or death of tissue, in the intestines, she said.
Sharon was taken to the operating theater at about 11 a.m. (0900 gmt), and surgery began some time after that. Surgery was to last between three and six hours, Bossem-Levy said. Sharon's sons, Omri and Gilad, rushed to the hospital Saturday morning. Later in the day, Sharon confidant Dov Weissglass, bureau chief Ilan Cohen and adviser Lior Horev arrived.