Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital
Photo: Gil Yochanan
Specialists meet with Sharon's doctors
Hadassah hospital brings in specialists to examine additional methods of trying to wake PM
The Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital treating Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has invited two external specialists on treating unconscious patients for consultations.
"In recent days, the Hadassah hospital is searching for additional ways to cause the prime minister to wake up, beyond methods tried up to now," a medical source told Ynet.
The doctors invited for consultation are from the department of intensive treatment for unconscious patients at the Loewenstein Hospital Rehabilitation Center.
Hadassah said that the consultation was prearranged with the Sharon family.
Family members also met with the specialists.
In the course of Sharon's hospitalization, Hadassah doctors have held consultations with other doctors from Israel and abroad via telephone.
No change
The hospital said in a statement that "there is no change in the condition of the prime minister, and he continues to be in serious condition."
A senior hospital official added that there was no intention at this stage of transferring Sharon to a recovery department or to another medical institution.
Loewenstein Hospital Director Professor Yaakov Haret, said, "I am sure that Hadassah has all the means and techniques in order to treat the prime minister. We in Loewenstein have years of experience with unconscious patients, and many of them wake up and regain consciousness.
Chances for recovery
The hospital's figures show that 80 percent of unconscious patients who suffered from head injuries recover. With that, however, those who suffered bleeding in the brain have lower recovery chances.
Treatment of unconscious patients is carried out through medicine, physiotherapy, cognitive treatment, and multi-sensory stimulation.
On Sunday, Sharon underwent a CT scan, which found that the prime minister was not suffering from bleeding in his brain.
He remains connected to a ventilation machine which supports his breathing, though he is breathing independently.
A senior Hadassah hospital official said that attempts will be made to disconnect Sharon from the ventilation machine in coming days, so that he will be able to fully breathe on his own.
