The Bishop of Rome underwent surgery on Wednesday afternoon. This consisted of a laparotomy to remove an abdominal hernia causing a subocclusive syndrome. Explanations.
Pope Francis, 86, was operated on Wednesday, June 7 at Gemelli Hospital in Rome (Italy). He originally suffered from an abdominal hernia. “a recurrent, painful and worsening subocclusive syndrome”, said the Vatican press service. Subocclusive syndrome is bowel obstruction, which is a partial or complete blockage of the small intestine or colon. This blockage prevents food, liquids and gases from flowing normally through the intestine.
medical history
Also according to the Vatican press service, this occlusion was due to scars caused by old surgeries. The pope had in particular been operated on in July 2021 for a diverticular stenosis of the colon – anatomical anomalies, kinds of hernias, which, in the event of complications, end up infecting, perforating or shrinking the colon.
The operation lasted about three hours. The bishop of Rome underwent a laparotomy, a surgical procedure which consists in opening the abdomen. “We found several strong adhesions (internal scars) between certain partially congested mid-intestinal loops and the parietal peritoneum (this membrane that lines the walls of the abdomen, editor’s note)”, explained Doctor Sergio Alferi, the pope’s surgeon, during a press conference. Abnormalities that caused the symptoms felt by Pope Francis.
Pope’s audience suspended
All of the internal scars, the famous adhesions, were removed during the operation. Plastic surgery of the abdominal wall consisted of placing a prosthetic mesh. Objective: to strengthen the abdominal wall in order to prevent the appearance of new hernias.
According to his surgeon, seven days of hospitalization are normally necessary in order to best manage the post-operative phase. The director of the Holy See’s press office has already announced that all papal audiences have been suspended until June 18.