PHNO-HL: LIFE-THREATENING: GLORIA ARROYO BROUGHT TO MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER

LIFE-THREATENING: GLORIA ARROYO BROUGHT TO
MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER

MANILA, AUGUST 15, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Niña Calleja - Former
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (photo) was taken to Makati Medical Center
(MMC) on Monday for examination after the dislocation of the titanium plate
supporting her cervical spine, a condition that a doctor at the hospital
described as life-threatening.

Staff at the hospital's call center confirmed that Arroyo, now a Pampanga
congresswoman, was admitted to the hospital after her scheduled checkup. They
had no other information.

Radio reports said Arroyo, in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace, arrived
at the hospital around 8 a.m.

The MMC call center released a two-page medical bulletin on Arroyo's
condition.

Dr. Robert Anastacio, a resident cardiologist at the hospital, advised Arroyo
to undergo another CT scan to determine if there was a "further deterioration of
[her] anterior cervical cage."

"The presence of a displaced titanium plate along C2-C3 is a serious factor
in the mechanism of breathing and subsequently blood circulation, which may lead
to sudden death," the medical bulletin quoted Anastacio as saying.

On Aug. 3, just days after the Pasay City Regional Trial Court allowed Arroyo
to post bail in her electoral sabotage case, she suffered neck pains after
choking on a piece of melon. She was rushed to Veterans Memorial Medical Center
(VMMC) where she had been detained for nearly eight months.

Thin, dehydrated

"When I saw the patient during her last confinement, she was very thin and
dehydrated with extreme anxiety after an episode of severe swallowing
dysfunction, which resulted in choking," Anastacio said.

Arroyo is having extreme difficulty in eating and swallowing even water, he
said.

She also has a blocked artery in the heart, he said. "The former President is
suffering from a 40-30 percent coronary artery obstruction of her proximal right
coronary artery and left descending coronary artery," he said.

Allies worried

Arroyo's health is a cause of concern of her friends and allies in the House
of Representatives, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa said.

"We're just worried," Villarosa said, but declined to comment further as it
was a medical matter.

Hypoparathyroidism

Arroyo had undergone cervical spine surgery to deal with severe pain in her
upper limbs caused by compressed nerves in the neck.

Arroyo was also found to have hypoparathyroidism, a disorder in which the
parathyroid glands fail to produce enough of the hormone that helps control
calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin D levels in the blood and bone.

Earlier this year, she contracted shingles, which is caused by the same virus
that causes chicken pox. With a report from Leila B.
Salaverria
FROM GMA NEWS TV
Rep. Suarez: Gloria Arroyo advised to seek second opinion in
New York ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News August 14, 2012 7:35pm
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been advised by her
cardiologist to seek a second opinion on her health condition from a surgeon in
New York City, one of her allies said Tuesday.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said he will try to ask Arroyo's lawyers
to ask the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court to allow the former President to
consult a neuro-cervical surgeon abroad, as recommended by her cardiologist, Dr.
Robert Anastacio.
"We will appeal for the compassion of the court. We will appeal for the
lifting of the order so that she can seek medical treatment abroad," Suarez told
reporters Tuesday.
The opposition leader added that Arroyo's doctors found a lump in the former
President's breast, although he said he still had to compare findings made by
doctors from the Makati Medical Center and those from the Veterans Memorial
Medical Center.
"When we're talking of a life-and-death situation, all the leeway should be
given to a person who is ill," he said.
Arroyo, who is suffering from bone mineral disorder, is restricted from
traveling abroad due to a hold departure order issued by the Sandiganbayan in
connection with a plunder case filed against her for alleged misuse of
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.
In a medical bulletin released Monday, Anastacio said the former President is
at risk of "sudden death" because the displaced titanium implant in her spine is
blocking her respiratory tract.
The ex-President underwent three surgical procedures last year at the St.
Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City to correct a pinched nerve on her spine.
The implant was placed on her neck during the first procedure, and had to be
corrected during the second operation.
Late last month, Arroyo was released from hospital detention after a Pasay
court allowed her to post a P1-million bail in relation to her poll sabotage
case.
Last November, the former President also attempted to leave the country to
seek medical attention, but was prevented by government officials at the
airport. - BM, GMA News


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet

This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.

To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/

(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/