Gloria Arroyo's 2nd surgery 'unsuccessful,' spine infected

Former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will have to go through a third operation after doctors at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City discovered that Arroyo’s first operation developed an infection. In a medical bulletin Wednesday, attending physician Dr. Juliet Cervantes told reporters that the former president will have to use an external support for her neck because of the infection that dislodged her titanium implants.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV “Tinanggal ‘yung implant muna kasi nga may infection. Later on kapag na-treat na ‘yung infection, saka tayo maglalagay ulit ng implant to support internally para mawala yung external support," she said. The infection, said Cervantes, loosened Arroyo’s already brittle neck bones, dislodging the implant. On Tuesday, it was first announced that Arroyo was to go under the knife the second time on Wednesday to correct a displaced titanium implant in her spine. Two weeks ago, Arroyo underwent surgery for the pinched nerve in the neck region of her spine. Cervantes added that the infection might have come from Arroyo’s throat, because the bacteria are typically found in the pharyngeal area. Late last week, it was reported that Mrs. Arroyo’s vocal chords were swollen post-surgery. Arroyo’s attending physician clarified that it would be difficult to pinpoint the root of the infection. “When the immune system of an individual is low or weak, whatever is the reason, physical strength, emotional status… it’s multi-factorial. The environment is really difficult to isolate at this time. When your immune system is low, there is a tendency for you to be susceptible even to the normal [conditions] of the body," she said, adding that the pharyngeal bacteria are something can be found in any healthy person. “It’s just a matter of whether [your immune system] will be able to fight it back," she said. The Pampanga Representative will be taking “strong antibiotics" intravenously before she can go on with the third surgery to correct the dislodged titanium plate. Cervantes added that they will have to treat the infection “aggressively" or it may progress further. While she was not able to give a specific timeframe for Arroyo’s hospital confinement, Cervantes said the former president might be confined for a longer period than before. “Depending on her response [to the antibiotics] but there is a possibility that she will stay longer than before because we really have to be sure that we will be able to infuse the IV antibiotics," she said. Cervantes said that as long as the infection is controlled, the third operation to fix the implants will be easier than the second one. — BC/PE/VS, GMA News