BRAIN SURGEONS TREATING Michael Schumacher say that he is fighting for his life and would not give any indication on his future prognosis.
Doctors at the Grenoble hospital where Schumacher is in an induced coma say that the seven-time Formula One world champion would not have survived his skiing accident had he not been wearing a helmet.
At a press conference in France this morning, doctors say that Schumacher has undergone only one operation since his accident despite reports that he had a second procedure overnight.
His situation was described numerous times as being “critical” with physicians unwilling to offer any predictions on his future condition:
We’re currently not able to talk about any after affects, for the moment we cannot speculate at all. He is in a critical condition.
When he was presented to hospital Schumacher underwent a brain scan that showed bleeding within the skull as well as bruising of the brain.
He was operated on immediately before being taken to intensive care where he was put in an induced coma.
Doctors say that he has been placed in an induced hypothermia to keep the brain cool and that stimuli has also been reduced.
He is currently being treated for cerebral edema which is a build up of fluid in the brain.
Doctors say that they have been at his bedside night and day and say they are in constant contact with his family who are also at his bedside. The operating surgeon said that his helmet may have saved his life:
We believe that taking into considering the very violent shock, the helmet did help. Certainly if he hadn’t have been wearing the helmet, he wouldn’t have got to here.
The doctors would not speculate as to whether he fitness as an athlete would help his recovery, merely saying that health and fitness can of course be a factor in a patients condition and possible recovery.
