Hadassah: PM responded to stimulation

(VIDEO) Hadassah Director Shlomo Mor Yosef told reporters Monday evening that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon slightly moved his right arm and leg in response to stimulation.

The response constitutes a "very important" sign, but it remains too early to talk about cognitive abilities,” Mor Yosef said.

“As of this morning the prime minister has been breathing on his own; he is still hooked up to a respiratory machine, but he is breathing on his own,” he said.

“During the morning hours we gradually reduced the inflow of sedative drugs into Sharon’s body. Currently he remains under sedation, but the dosage has been reduced."

Hadassah director updates reporters (Footage: Channel 2)  

Mor Yosef said that a number of tests were conducted on Sharon as the sedation level was being reduced.

“First of all, we checked to see that the regular indicators, such as blood and intracranial pressure, have not changed. Later, while examining Sharon’s reaction to pain, we noticed that he slightly moved his right arm and leg. This is a small but significant movement.”

When asked whether the prime minister could be completely roused in the near future, Mor Yosef said a team of anesthetists have already started to gradually bring Sharon out of a medically-induced coma and a final decision on when to cease the injection of sedatives would be taken in accordance with the prime minister’s reaction to the treatment; the process could take days, he added.

Dr. Felix Umansky, one of the Sharon’s surgeons, said he expects even more significant reactions by the prime minister to pain stimulations in the coming days.

Schoolchildren's letters to Sharon (Photo: Reuters)  

“Waking the prime minister up may take a long time, even after we have stopped the inflow of sedatives to his body; it can take days,” he said, adding that he expects the prime minister to eventually open his eyes.

Doctors tending to Sharon are schedule to meet Tuesday morning to reevaluate his condition; they are expected to further reduce the inflow o sedatives into the prime minister’s body in an effort to bring him back to a state of full consciousness.

The medical team will apparently also attempt to encourage Sharon to breathe on his own by slowing down the respiratory machine’s activity.

Associates of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon have expressed certain optimism after Hadassah Ein Kerem doctors have begun to awaken the prime minister from his medically-induced coma and following reports that he has started breathing on his own.

Well wishers await news on PM’s condition (Photo: AFP)

However, the prime minister’s aides, who are waiting at the hospital for any updates or developments, remain anxious as Sharon’s condition is still listed as critical and the optimism expressed by the medical team is cautious.

International show of support

Another aide told Ynet regarding the process of slowly rousing the PM, “It is still not clear if we are talking about hours or days. The processes are slow, and it is good that the doctors are proceeding with caution.

“It is certainly encouraging that the prime minister has started breathing on his own, but on the other hand I keep telling myself that the situation is still serious. We are waiting here with friends and family; patience is key here,” he added.

A delegation of over 60 lords, senators, congressmen and Jewish parliament members from 28 states throughout the world arrived at Hadassah Hospital Monday morning in order to express support for Prime Minister Sharon's family, wish the PM a full recovery and show sympathy for the people of Israel at this difficult time.

Tal Rosner contributed to the report