Still early days - Sharon doc

2006-01-06 23:33

Jerusalem - Ariel Sharon's chief surgeon said on Friday it was too early to assess the extent of brain damage the prime minister may have after a massive stroke and two separate operations.

Dr Felix Umansky operated on Sharon for nearly five hours on Friday, after a brain scan detected an increase in cranial pressure and renewed bleeding.

"He underwent the operation very well, the CT scan was good and he is now stable, in intensive care," said Umansky.

Asked about possible damage, he said: "There is always some damage when you have cerebral hemorrhage."

"We cannot assess the damage because he (Sharon) is under anesthesia all the time.

"We need to wait and see what will happen once we reduce the medication which keeps him under sedation."

Umansky said it was too early to tell whether Sharon was partially paralysed.

"We cannot assess his neurological situation," he said.

- AP