Holbrooke undergoes second surgical procedure, condition still critical.

[elleng]

Source: Foreign Policy

After enduring 21 hours of surgery Saturday to repair a tear in his aorta, Richard Holbrooke, President Obama's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, underwent a second surgical procedure Sunday at the George Washington University Hospital.

"Ambassador Richard Holbrooke remains in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital, where he is surrounded by his family, friends, colleagues and staff," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Sunday in a statement. "Today, Ambassador Holbrooke underwent an additional procedure to improve circulation following yesterday's surgery."



Read more: http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/12/12/holbrooke_undergoes_second_surgical_procedure_condition_still_critical

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Oh oh, may you get well

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Damn, I hope he pulls through...

A torn aorta is VERY dangerous.

Get well, Ambassador Holbrooke!

[KaoriMitsubishi]

3. Hmm...

"On Saturday, President Obama called Marton to tell her that he and the first lady were praying for Holbrooke."

Perhaps he should burn a goat or two just in case.

[chatnoir]

7. Er..."burn a goat or two just in case"??

:wtf:

[gateley]

4. Oh, I was just thinking about him a little earlier. Thank you for the update. I'm

no doctor, but to my lay brain it can maybe be taken as a hopeful sign that he was well enough to undergo a second surgery, and that they haven't given up on him? This is just sad.

[pa28]

5. I've always admired Mr. Holbrooke and was sorry to hear about his misfortune.

That guy has so much gravity you could probably put household objects into orbit around him. I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[JI7]

6. is this normal ?

the 2nd procedure or does it mean something went wrong or didn't help after the first one ?

i really hope he makes it out of this.

[trud]

8. there's an explanation of his possible situation here

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/holbrooke-s-artery-tear-is-rare-often-fatal-condition-heart-doctors-say.html

i don't think it can be that rare. It killed my grandfather. For some reason the hospital didn't even try to operate. I was too young and was too long ago to know why once I grew up and thought about it.

[CBHagman]

9. Thanks for the link.

People have been tweeting on this, of course, and I've been checking updates periodically and was worried to hear he'd been through surgery again and it would be a few days before his prospects were clear.

[Beacool]

10. His condition is very serious.

A torn aorta can be deadly. Apparently he was meeting with Hillary when he took ill. She insisted that he go to the hospital immediately and sent him with some aides in her private elevator to the medical office. If he hadn't gone to the hospital right away he probably wouldn't have made it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/11/AR2010121101399.html?sid%3DST2010121203830&sub=AR

:-(

[Hugin]

11. My best wishes for a successful outcome and speedy recovery go to Amb Holbrooke.

:(