Pope Francis will have hernia surgery; understand the disease – 06/07/2023 – Balance

Pope Francis undergoes surgery on his abdomen this Wednesday afternoon (7) at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. He must be hospitalized “for several days” to recover from the operation, the Vatican said.

A hernia is “causing recurrent, painful and aggravating symptoms,” according to Matteo Bruni, Vatican spokesman,

At 86, the pope has been grappling with a range of health issues.

He uses a cane or a wheelchair due to a knee problem.

The Vatican said the medical team accompanying the pontiff had decided in recent days that surgery was necessary.

“In the early afternoon, he will undergo a laparotomy on the abdominal wall under general anesthesia”, detailed Bruni. “The hospitalization will last several days to allow for the normal postoperative period and full recovery.”

On Wednesday morning, Pope Francis held a regular weekly audience and did not mention the surgery.

The day before (6), he was at the same hospital in Rome for a scheduled routine examination, months after being hospitalized with bronchitis.

what is hernia

A hernia happens when a small section of digestive organs (such as the intestines) “leaks” through a small hole that opens in the layers of muscle or other tissue that line and protect that part of the body.

This hole arises due to malformations or weakening of these protective walls of the abdomen.

The organ that escaped can suffer from strangulation and the restriction of the arrival of blood in the region.

Generally, hernias do not usually cause many symptoms in the early stages. If not diagnosed and treated, however, the person may experience pain and swelling.

Over time, the problem can evolve into more intense pain and difficulty evacuating, coughing, lifting weight or standing for extended periods.

The hole through which the digestive organ escapes can also increase in size – and lead to the unwanted displacement of an even larger part of the structures located in the belly.

According to studies, hernias affect more men and become more common with advancing age.

The main treatment for the problem is surgery. Most often, the method used is laparoscopy, in which doctors manipulate surgical instruments through small holes made from the skin.

In some cases, it is necessary to perform an open operation, with larger cuts.

In both options, the objective is to put the organs back in the correct place and close the holes where the leaks occurred.

recent issues

In March, Pope Francis spent three days in hospital to treat a lung infection, in the same month he completed ten years of pontificate.

Two years ago, in 2021, he spent ten days in the hospital after having part of his large intestine (the colon) removed, in an attempt to treat a painful intestinal condition. Recently, he revealed that the nuisance had returned.

Last month, the pontiff withdrew from an audience because he had a fever.

Despite health issues, the pope ruled out the possibility of stepping down – like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013.

“You don’t run the church with your knees, but with your head,” he told an aide last year.

The pope is generally considered to be in good health during his decade at the head of the Catholic Church. He continues with a busy schedule and has scheduled visits to Portugal and Mongolia in the second half of this year.

This text was published here