First Gentleman rushed to St. Luke's

MANILA, Philippines - First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was rushed yesterday to the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) at Global City in Taguig after complaining of back pains caused by a swollen aorta that was repaired three years ago and is at risk of rupturing, Malacañang officials said.

The First Gentleman was rushed to the SLMC at 8 a.m. accompanied by President Arroyo. He is confined at the intensive care unit for heart patients.

At 7 p.m., Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes declared the First Gentleman in “stable but guarded condition.”

In a statement she read to reporters, Cervantes said the patient needs “aggressive medical treatment.”

She did not answer queries from reporters, including possible new surgery on the First Gentleman.

SLMC cardiac surgeon Dr. Rommel Cariño said Mr. Arroyo “developed a redissection of the thoracic aorta and experienced back pains.”

“The condition calls for intense medical care to control the blood pressure and heart rate to prevent further redissection,” Cariño said.

“A rupture can cause compression of the blood supply to various vital organs,” he explained.

The President cancelled all her activities for the day, including an address before ASEAN cultural ministers meeting at Clark in Pampanga.

It was not clear yet whether the confinement of her husband would also affect her electoral campaign schedule as the official campaign period for the local election starts today.

Presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said there is no word yet whether Mrs. Arroyo would push through with her trips to the United States, Vietnam, and Spain set early next month.

“We pray for the speedy recovery from his ailment,” Saludo told a news briefing.

He said visitors, except family members, are not allowed. Even Arroyo’s lawyer Ruy Rondain failed to see his client.

Mr. Arroyo underwent high-risk heart surgery in April 2007 due to the same dissecting aorta. Since the surgery, the First Gentleman has been going to the SLMC twice a week for therapy and his activities, including overseas travels, were being closely monitored by his doctors.

His last overseas trip was earlier this month, when he watched the fight between Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey in Dallas, Texas.

In November 2008, a commercial jet carrying the President for an annual APEC summit in Peru was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan after her husband suffered severe abdominal pains.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III, when asked on Mr. Arroyo’s state of health, said: “I think we should pray for anyone who is sick.” – Paolo Romero, Marichu Villanueva, Ding Cervantes, Delon Porcalla