Doctor: (Sen. Tim) Johnson Improving After Surgery

Monday, January 08, 2007

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage, Sen. Tim Johnson is improving but still needs a ventilator at night to help him breathe, his doctor said Wednesday.

In the most detailed update yet on Johnson's condition, his doctor said a test Wednesday revealed no evidence the tangled arteries that triggered the senator's stroke remain. "This angiogram shows that there is no further surgery needed at this time," Dr. Vivek Deshmukh said in a statement released by Johnson's office.

The doctor said Johnson no longer needs a ventilator full-time. "His breathing has steadily improved and now he only requires ventilator assistance at night," said Deshmukh, the neurosurgeon treating the senator. The ventilator requires a tube to be placed down Johnson's throat, making it impossible for him to even attempt to talk.

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His long-term prognosis is unclear. Deshmukh said his recovery is expected to take several months.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jan08/0,4670,Johnson,00.html

What a long, hard slog it's going to be.

day in and day out which would get mighty uncomfortable since intubation requires sticking the tube in the mouth, down the throat, down between the vocal chords and so on. Don't you think he'd have some swelling or damage from all that intubation thus making it harder to accomplish? I think it's more likely he has a trach or some kind of access in place that they don't remove every morning and then put in to place again at night.
I hate when they try to be all dramatic and end up sounding like they haven't even watcthed ER or Grey's Anatomy in their life, let alone have a clue about some of the information they're reporting.

Oh no! He can't talk! How can he ever fufill his duties as Senator? Thanks for that gripping update Faux News.
:sarcasm:

for a couple of weeks. Respiratory therapy will follow. It takes a bit to get your voice back after the tubes come out because your vocal chords need to be trained to work again.