Timeline: Sharon stroke

2006-01-09 22:18

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's health emergency began on Wednesday night and was rushed to hospital after suffering a major stroke that involved bleeding in the brain.

His first such attack, much less serious, occurred in mid-December.

The chain of events:

December 18 2005:

Sharon was rushed to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem after suffering what doctors describe as "a mild stroke", or cerebral attack.

December 19:

Neurologist Tamir Ben-Hur, one of the doctors treating Sharon, said that he at no point lost consciousness during the stroke, and would be fit to leave hospital and resume work very shortly.

December 20:

On being discharged from the hospital, Sharon told journalists: "I must hurry to return to work so that we can move forward." This is a pun on the name of the new political party he had formed, which was called Kadima (Onward).

Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef, the director of the hospital, said the premier would need to take anticoagulant drugs to prevent any repetition of the clotting that led to his stroke.

Untied States President George W Bush called Sharon and advised him to take more exercise.

December 26:

Sharon's doctor, Professor Haim Lotan, announced that the 77-year-old premier would have to return to hospital for a minor heart procedure, known as a catheterism, to prevent any repetition of his stroke.

The doctors also publish Sharon's medical records, which indicated that he was in good health apart from being overweight. The Israeli premier weighed 115kg and was 1.70 metres tall.

January 4 2006:

At his ranch in the Negev Desert, southern Israel, Sharon was getting ready to leave for the minor heart operation after he had a new stroke, this time much more serious.

He was rushed to Hadassah Hospital, where Mor Yosef said he had a serious brain haemorrhage, causing "extensive damage".

Cabinet secretary Israel Maimon said that in view of Sharon's condition, the reins of the government would be taken over by finance minister Ehud Olmert, the deputy prime minister.

January 5:

In the early hours of Thursday, doctors said Sharon was undergoing emergency surgery to drain blood from his brain.

They added that his condition was potentially life-threatening and even if he survived, he would be incapacitated for some time.

After six hours of surgery, Sharon was taken out of the operating theatre, only to be rushed back with complications.

On Thursday evening, doctors announced that Sharon was stable and in a medically induced coma. He was to be kept in that condition for between 48 and 72 hours in order to reduce the pressure of blood in his brain.

January 6:

Sharon underwent a new brain scan to assess his condition. After doctors detected further cranial bleeding, he was rushed back to the operating theatre for further surgery.

After a subsequent scan, Mor Yosef said there had been "a significant improvement" in his brain.

One of the premier's doctors told the Haaretz newspaper that damage caused by his stroke was likely to be "extensive and irreversible".

January 7:

Sharon, who remained in a deep coma, underwent another brain scan, which a hospital official described as routine.

Doctors said they detected a reduction in the swelling in the prime minister's brain after his haemorrhage, but that he remained in a critical condition.

January 8:

New brain scan was carried out, after which doctors treating Sharon ruled out the chances of his returning as prime minister.

Acting prime minister Olmert chaired the Israeli government's first regular meeting without Sharon.

A hospital spokesperson described Sharon's condition as critical, but stable, adding that doctors would begin waking him from the coma early on Monday.

January 9:

Sharon breathed unaided shortly after doctors began gradually waking him from the coma, and he managed to raise his right arm.

A delegation of some 60 Jewish lawmakers from around the world visited Hadassah Hospital to enquire after Sharon's health.

- AFP