Illnesses of Ariel Sharon 3625293 225762640 2008-07-15T08:07:37Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_dates_in_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] The '''illnesses of Ariel Sharon''' are a series of medical problems that former [[Israel]]i [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]] [[Ariel Sharon]] has experienced, especially coming to the fore in late [[2005]] and early [[2006]]. The second stroke, which was described as "massive", rendered Sharon incapable of carrying out his duties as Prime Minister or of running in the March 2006 Israeli elections, and effectively ended his political career. ==Obesity== The actual weight of Ariel Sharon had long been the subject of speculation. It was revealed after his first stroke in December 2005, that he weighed 118 kg (18 [[stone (weight)|stone]] 8 lb or 260 lb) at the time, making him [[Obesity|morbidly obese]], and had subsequently lost a number of pounds. Sharon often joked about his own weight; in October 2004 when asked why he did not wear a [[bulletproof vest|ballistic vest]] despite frequent death threats, Sharon smiled and replied, "There are none that fit my size". <ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200410/ai_n6866062 No flak jacket in Sharon's size | AFP | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> While this obesity in itself would not necessarily lead to a stroke, the associated conditions, such as [[Hypercholesterolemia|high cholesterol]], could. ==Stroke of December 2005== On [[December 18]], [[2005]] Sharon was sent to [[Hadassah Medical Center]] after suffering a mild stroke, specifically a relatively unusual type of stroke called a [[paradoxical embolism]], in which a clot from the venous circulation crosses over into the arterial circulation through a hole between the right and left atrium called an [[atrial septal defect]] (or a patent foramen ovale) and goes to the brain, causing a transient speech and motor disturbance. On his way to the hospital he lost [[consciousness]] but regained it shortly thereafter. He reportedly wanted to leave the hospital the evening after his arrival but the hospital wanted him to stay another day. He spent two days in the hospital and was to have had the small hole in his heart repaired by a [[cardiac catheterization]] procedure in early January. ==Stroke of January 2006== On [[January 4]], [[2006]], in the evening before his catheterization, Sharon suffered a second, far more serious stroke at his [[Havat Hashikmim]] ranch in the [[Negev|Negev region]]. A "massive [[cerebral haemorrhage]]" led to bleeding in his brain which doctors eventually brought under control the following morning after performing two separate operations. After the first operation, lasting seven hours, Hadassah Director Shlomo Mor-Yosef reported Sharon's bleeding had stopped and his brain was functioning without artificial support.<ref>Simon Jeffery. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1678355,00.html Sharon's condition critical after surgery], ''[[The Guardian]] '', January 5, 2006.</ref> After a second, 14-hour surgery, Sharon was placed on a [[ventilator]] and some reports suggested that he was suffering from [[paralysis]] in his lower body, while others said he was still fighting for his life. He was placed in an [[induced coma]] and his Prime Ministerial duties were handed over to his deputy, [[Ehud Olmert]]. On Friday, [[January 6]], Sharon was brought back into the [[operating theatre]] after doctors reviewed the results of a [[brain scan]]. Hospital officials declined to comment on these reports. On the night of Sharon's stroke, in the wake of his serious illness and following consultations between Government Secretary [[Israel Maimon]] and Attorney General [[Menachem Mazuz]], Sharon was declared "temporarily incapable of discharging his powers." As a result, [[Ehud Olmert]], the Deputy Prime Minister, was officially confirmed as the Acting Prime Minister of Israel. Olmert and the Cabinet announced that the [[Israel legislative election, 2006|elections]] would take place on [[28 March]] as scheduled. On [[January 9]], ''[[Haaretz]]'' reported that while performing tests on Sharon while treating his second stroke, doctors had discovered he was suffering from undiagnosed [[Congophilic angiopathy|cerebral amyloid angiopathy]] (CAA), a brain disorder which, in conjunction with [[anticoagulant|blood thinners]] prescribed after his first stroke, greatly increased his risk of cerebral hemorrhage. Although some have insinuated that this news represents a failure on Hadassah's part to provide adequate care for Sharon, CAA can be very difficult to accurately diagnose, and is often only discovered after an individual suffers a brain hemorrhage. The following day, newspapers reported that Sharon's CAA had actually been diagnosed following his first stroke in December. This was confirmed by hospital director Mor-Yosef who commented that "Hadassah physicians were aware of the brain diagnosis, and no new diagnosis has been made during the current hospitalization." Mor-Yosef declined to respond to criticism of the combination of blood thinners and a CAA diagnosis, though ''Haaretz'' quoted some doctors as saying the medication led to the second stroke and that it would never have been given if doctors had known about his brain condition.<ref>Mark Willacy, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/01/10/1545220.htm Israeli PM Sharon moves left side], ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'', January 10, 2006.</ref> Sharon underwent subsequent surgeries the following month. On [[February 11]] [[2006]], doctors performed emergency surgery to remove 50-cm of his [[large intestine]] that had become [[necrosis|necrotic]], probably because of a blood clot.<ref>Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395387057&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull PM 'stable' after emergency surgery], ''[[Jerusalem Post]]'', February 11, 2006.</ref> On [[22 February]], he underwent an additional procedure to drain excess fluid from his stomach, discovered during a routine [[computed tomography|CT]] scan.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/22/sharon.procedure/index.html Comatose Sharon has stomach drained], [[CNN]], February 23, 2006.</ref> ===Criticism=== Several commentators have noted that Sharon's care was potentially flawed. Most seriously, after his second stroke, Sharon was transported by ground ambulance to the hospital, a trip that took approximately one hour. Helicopter transport was not utilized.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4582574.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israeli PM suffers serious stroke<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Also, other commentators have said that the dose of blood thinner given to Sharon was potentially problematic for someone who had recently suffered a stroke.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/05/MNGL8GHN051.DTL Sharon felled by medicine side effect / Rare consequence of blood-thinner to prevent new stroke<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Incapacitation=== According to Israeli law, an Acting Prime Minister can remain in office 100 days after the Prime Minister has become incapacitated. After 100 days, the Israeli President must appoint a new Prime Minister. At the time of his stroke, Sharon enjoyed considerable support from the general public in Israel.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4585686.stm| date=[[January 5]] [[2006]]| title=Can Kadima survive without Sharon?| first=Jonathan| last=Marcus| accessdate=2006-03-28|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> The new [[Centrism|centrist]] political party that he founded, [[Kadima]], won the largest number of seats in the [[Israeli legislative elections, 2006|Knesset elections]] held on [[28 March]] [[2006]]. (Since Sharon was unable to sign a nomination form, he was not a candidate and therefore ceased to be a Knesset member.) On [[6 April]], President of Israel [[Moshe Katsav]] formally asked Olmert to form a government, making him Prime Minister-Designate. Olmert had an initial period of 28 days to form a governing [[coalition government|coalition]], with a possible two-week extension.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/703010.html| date=[[April 6]] [[2006]] | title=Katsav invites Olmert to form next government| first=Akiva| last=Eldar| accessdate=2006-04-06|publisher=Haaretz}}</ref> On [[11 April]] [[2006]], the Israeli Cabinet deemed that Sharon was incapacitated. Although Sharon's replacement was to be named within 100 days of his becoming incapacitated, the replacement deadline was extended due to the Jewish festival of [[Passover]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/705050.html| year=2006| title=Cabinet approves appointment of Ehud Olmert as interim PM| first=Nir| last=Hasson| publisher=Ha'aretz| date=[[April 6]], [[2006]]}}</ref> A provision was made that, should Sharon's condition improve between [[11 April]] and [[14 April]], the declaration would not take effect. Therefore, the official declaration took effect on [[14 April]], formally ending Sharon's term as Prime Minister and making [[Ehud Olmert]] the country's new Prime Minister. ===Subsequent care=== On [[28 May]] [[2006]], Sharon was transferred from the hospital in Jerusalem to a long-term care unit of the [[Sheba Medical Center]] in [[Tel HaShomer]], a large civilian and military hospital. ''Ha'aretz'' reported that this move was an indication that Sharon's doctors did not expect him to emerge from his coma in the foreseeable future. Dr. Yuli Krieger, a physician not involved in Sharon's case, told [[Israel Radio]] that the chances of waking up after such a lengthy coma were small. "Every day that passes after this kind of event with the patient still unconscious the chances that he will gain consciousness get smaller," said Krieger, Deputy Head of Levinstein House, another long-term care facility.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=sharon&itemNo=720578| year=2006| title=Ariel Sharon transferred to long-term treatment in Tel HaShomer | date=[[May 28]] [[2006]]| publisher=Ha'aretz| accessdate=2006-05-28}}</ref> On [[23 July]] [[2006]], CNN reported that Sharon's condition was deteriorating and his kidney function was worsening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/23/sharon.ap/index.html| title= Sharon's condition worsens| date=[[July 23]] [[2006]]| | publisher=CNN| accessdate=2006-07-23}}</ref> On [[July 26]], [[2006]] doctors moved him to [[Intensive care medicine|intensive care]] and began [[hemofiltration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/26/sharon/index.html| title=Hospital: Sharon taken to intensive care| date=[[July 26]] [[2006]]| | publisher=CNN| accessdate=2006-07-26}}</ref> On [[14 August]] [[2006]] doctors reported that Sharon's condition worsened significantly and that he was suffering from [[pneumonia]] in both lungs.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060814-122127-4981r Sharon's health deteriorates - UPI.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On August 29, doctors reported that he had been successfully treated for his pneumonia and moved out of intensive care back to the long-term care unit.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0829/sharona.html RTÉ News: Sharon is out of intensive care<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On [[3 November]], [[2006]], it was reported that Sharon had been admitted to intensive care after contracting an infection, though doctors insisted that his condition was 'stable'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6113330.stm| title=Sharon admitted to intensive care| date=[[November 3]] [[2006]]| |publisher=BBC News| accessdate=2006-11-05}}</ref> He was moved out of the intensive care unit on November 6, 2006 after treatment for a heart infection. Doctors stated that "his heart function has improved after being treated for an infection and his overall condition has stabilised".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6120298.stm Sharon leaves intensive care unit],'''BBC'''</ref> Sharon has remained in a long-term care centre since [[6 November]], [[2006]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6120298.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Sharon leaves intensive care unit<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Medical experts have indicated that Sharon's cognitive abilities were destroyed by the massive stroke, and that he is in a [[persistent vegetative state]] with extremely slim chances of regaining consciousness. On [[13 April]], [[2007]], it was reported that Sharon's condition had slightly improved and that according to his son, [[Omri Sharon|Omri]], he was marginally responsive.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/world/middleeast/13sharon.html Sharon’s Condition Is Said to Improve],'''Reuters'''</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.ariel-sharon-life-story.com/21-Latest-News-on-Ariel-Sharon's-Health-and-Medical-Condition.shtml Latest News on Ariel Sharon's Health and Medical Condition - from Ariel Sharon's Life Story, a biography] * [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1136415010718&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home Toronto Star - Ariel Sharon's massive stroke shakes region] * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4549142.stm BBC - Sharon urged to curb his appetite] * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4583160.stm BBC - Israeli PM critical after stroke] [[Category:History of Israel|Sharon]] [[Category:Health by individual|Sharon, Ariel]]