Pope Francis, 86, was undergoing emergency surgery under general anesthesia in Rome for a risk of intestinal obstruction, the Vatican confirmed.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office said the operation, which was "decided in recent days by the medical team assisting the Holy Father, became necessary due to an incisional hernia pains and worsens," according to Vatican News.
At the end of the General Audience, the Holy Father Francis went to the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, where in the early afternoon he underwent, under general anesthesia, a laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses.
The Agostino Gemelli Hospital, in Rome. Photo: EFE
This was reported by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, in a statement to journalists.
Details and forecast
Abdominal incisional hernia is one of the most frequent complications that appear after abdominal surgery of any kind.
The pope already underwent colon surgery in 2021 at the Gemelli polyclinic. Surgeon Professor Sergio Alfieri, 55, performed the operation with the support of a vast group of specialists.
The same surgeon operated on him on Wednesday.
The statue of John Paul II in front of the Gemelli. Photo: EFE
Hernias are treated surgically with mesh that reduces recurrence but does not completely eliminate it.
Hernias can reoccur despite mesh placement.
Full recovery is expected within approximately 2 to 4 weeks. For several weeks after surgery, straining or heavy lifting should be avoided.
The surgical intervention is "necessary" because of the aggravation of the symptoms presented by the Supreme Pontiff, his medical team said, and will require "several days" of hospitalization, said the director of the Holy See press service, Matteo Bruni.
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