VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 1996 (VIS) - The first medical bulletin following Pope John Paul's surgery this morning was released by the Holy See Press Office and is here presented in its entirety:
"According to the schedule previously communicated on September 14, this morning, October 8, 1996, the Holy Father underwent - under a general anaesthesia - the surgical procedure of an appendectomy, previous to which there was a lysis (dissolving) of localized adhesions.
"The operation confirmed the clinical diagnosis of 'recurring episodes of inflammation of the appendix,' as previously stated.
"Exploration of the area allowed for the exclusion, once again, of the presence of other pathologies.
"The extemporaneous histological examination showed a transmural appendicitis with evidence of fibrosis established from preceding inflammatory episodes. The morphological finding is indicative of recidivist appendicitis.
"The exam will be completed with the usual definitive histopathological research.
"The operation began at 7:50 a.m. and ended at 8:40 a.m. and was undergone well by the patient.
"The vital signs: cardio-circulatory, respiratory, hematological and metabolical stayed within the norm for the entire duration of the operation.
"Consciousness was rapidly recovered.
"Immediately following the surgery, the Holy Father was taken back to his room.
"The surgery was performed by Prof. Francesco Crucitti, assisted by Professors G.B. Doglietto and R. Bellantone and by Dr. L. Sofo.
"The anaesthesia was administered by Professors Corrado Manni and Rodolfo Proietti, with the collaboration of Dr. (Mrs.) R. Ranieri.
"Cardiological assistance was administered by Prof. Attilio Maseri.
"The histological examination was done by Prof. A. Capelli, director of the Institute of Pathological Anatomy, and by Prof. J. Prat, director of the Service of Pathological Anatomy of the 'Sant. Creu y San Pau' hospital of Barcelona.
"Assisting were Dr. Renato Buzzonetti and Prof. Luigi Ortona, to whom was entrusted the consultation for the anti-infection prophylaxis relative to the preceding cytomegalovirus infection.
"The next updating on the post-operative period of the Holy Father will be given through press communiques, the first of which will be made public Wednesday, October 9, at 12 noon.
"(Signed by): Professors Francesco Crucitti, director of the Institute of
Clinical Surgery; Corrado Manni, director of the Institute of Anaesthesiology
and Reanimation; Rodolfo Proietti, chief of service of anaesthesia and
reanimation, Gemelli Polyclinic; Luigi Ortona, director of the Institute of the
Clinic of Infectious Illnesses; Attilio Maseri, director of the Cardiology
Institute; and Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, personal physician of the Holy Father."
OP/POPE SURGERY/... VIS 961008 (420)