Arroyo transferred to ICU

MANILA, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on Friday after several tests showed she is at risk of a heart attack.

VMMC Director Nona F. Legaspi said various tests done on Mrs. Arroyo indicated that the former president is currently suffering from "ischemia."

"Considering the forgoing, the patient is not dischargable at this time," Legaspi told reporters in a press briefing Friday afternoon.

Legaspi explained that ischemia is a condition where not enough blood is circulating in the coronary arteries due to blockage.

"Medyo ominous iyan. It is not something that you can just forego with. You have to monitor the patient. That's why we transferred her to the ICU. May medicines, the cardiologist will take care of that," she said.

"Ischemia should not be taken lightly. That can progress to full blown myocardial infarction, or in layman's term, a heart attack.," she added, noting that the former president needs to undergo further medical examinations.

Legaspi said Arroyo is not allowed to engage in any activity while inside the ICU.

"Ngayon dapat binabatanayan siya and everybody knows, I think there is no need to overemphazise that the heart is important," Legaspi said.

Arroyo was admitted to the ICU on Friday even as her arraignment for a plunder case was scheduled on Monday, October 15.

Earlier, her lawyers filed a formal written motion before the Sandiganbayan to defer the arraignment.

The motion accused the Office of the Ombudsman of committing "grave abuse of discretion" in finding probable cause in the plunder case against Mrs. Arroyo.

It said the former President plans to file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court to nullify and set aside the resolutions of the Ombudsman finding probable cause in the case.

The lawyers argued they need more time to prepare the petition for certiorari before the SC, hence the need to defer the arraignment on Monday, October 15.

Legaspi said it remains indefinite when Arroyo could be discharged.

"In the practice of medicine you think of the worst condition until proven otherwise. In a situation where the patient is diagnosed to have ischemia, you will think of that blockage in the coronary artieres until proven otherwise," she said.

"Sometimes pwede bumalik lahat yan. It is better to put her in the ICU for monitoring and then tell 'okay, that was nothing,' rather than take it for granted and all of a sudden you are caught unaware, and it turns around."

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Dolphy set to leave ICU; family ecstatic

MANILA, Philippines - King of Comedy Dolphy may soon be released from the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Makati Medical Center (MMC), his son, Eric Quizon, said on Friday.

Quizon was all smiles on Friday as he announced the latest medical bulletin of the once-ailing veteran film actor.

He said his father may finally be released from the ICU on Monday or Tuesday next week after fighting for his life for almost three weeks.

"Baka ilipat na siya sa isang regular room. Like I said, it's all good news from now and of course the family's ecstatic about the developnmet," Quizon said.

The actor said Dolphy continues to make strides toward improvements in his health condition -- among them the lessening need for blood transfusions, and the improving functioning capacity of his kidneys.

"For the last two days there was no blood transfusions, so atleast nagi-improve 'yun. According to the doctors, there's no more bleeding, no more internal bleeding, which is good," he said.

"[His] kidney function has improved. From less than 10 percent, now the doctor says it's a little over 20 percent, which is a really big improvement."

Dolphy also continues to have regular sessions of dialysis, Quizon said. The sessions, however, may be put on hold over the weekend to see if the condition of Dolphy's kidneys will manage to improve even without administering dialysis.

"Hopefully itong weekend na 'to ipapahinga muna siya sa dialysis kasi it seems like yesterday hindi siya nag-dialysis, nagkaroon ng malaking improvement eh.'

"So of course, 'yung dialysis nakakatulong 'yan, pero 'yung gagawin nila ngayon itong weekend na 'to, off muna siya sa dialyusis. Titingnan natin kung ano 'yung magiging improvement ng kidney niya.'

"It's all positive from now, may output na. Even his stomach, his intestines are all doing well."

Kiss with Zsa Zsa

As his vital signs continue to improve day by day, Dolphy has also increasingly become lucid. He now communicates better with members of his family and even jokes with his children.

"He's very lucid. 'Dad, nakikita mo ba ako?' [He nods.] Hindi pa namin siya nadidinig, but he mouths. Nagsasalita siya, mina-mouth niya 'yung sinasabi niya, so kailangan namin klaruhin kung ano 'yung sinasabi niya," Quizon said.

Among Dolphy's most recent expressions, Quizon said, was of his desire to be discharged from the hospital and go home.

"Palaging sinasabi niya,'Uwi, uwi na tayo.' Gusto na niyang umuwi. Pero syempre, hindi pa namin pwede gawin 'yun dahil nga mino-monitor pa 'yung kundisyon niya," Quizon said.

After mouthing "I love you" to his long-time partner singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dolphy continues to interact with his family members, according to Quizon.

"Yesterday, for example, sabi ni Zsa Zsa, 'Lovey, kiss!' Talagang ngumuso siya, gumanon, ta's nag-kiss sila. Even my sisters ganun din, lahat sila humalik sa daddy ko," Quizon said.

"Kanina pala dumila, nag-lolokohan sila. Sabi niya doon sa mga nurse at mga sisters ko. Dumila siya. Nagagawa parin niyang magpatawa," Quizon added.

Quizon attributed his father's breakthroughs to the doctors attending to the veteran actor, as well as to the unceasing prayers for his recovery from his close friends and long-time supporters.

"Gaya nga ng sinabi ko lahat sa inyo, sinagot 'yung dasal ng pamilya namin at dasal ng lahat ng mga Pilipino at lahat ng mga nagmamahal sa kanya," Quizon said.

"We'd like to think it is a miracle."

source: abs-cbnnews.com