Revilla still in critical condition

Sen. Ramon Revilla is still in a critical condition despite the successful operation on his spinal column by surgeons of the Stanford University Medical Center in the United States last April 11, his son-in-law, Sen. Robert Jaworski, revealed yesterday.

The surgeons decided on an immediate operation on the senator, who was spending the Lenten recess in the US, to prevent his becoming paralyzed after medical examination revealed torn ligaments and fissures in the upper region of his spinal column.

The doctors were concerned that slight to moderate trauma in the affected region might cause partial or total paralysis as the fissures might crack and damage nerves in the spinal cord.

Earlier, Revilla’s son, former Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla, said in a press statement that Revilla was doing very well and doctors did not see any complication arising from the operation.

He said the senator might have to spend two weeks more in the US hospital to recuperate.

Jaworski, who had just arrived from the US, said Revilla could still not move "that much" up to now and that it would take up to three months before he could go past the critical period.

"It was a close to nine-hour operation. His spinal vertebrae were replaced with special metal so they could be functional," he said of the "dissectomy and corpectomy" operation conducted on the spinal column of Revilla.

Jaworski said that while the operation was successful, Revilla remains in his most critical stage "up to another three months."

He quoted the doctors as saying that complete bed rest coupled with medication and therapy could place Revilla past the critical stage in the next three months.

Revilla became popular as a movie actor by portraying lead characters with amulets, and is fondly called by friends and admirers as Agimat.

Bong Revilla said his father showed his agimat (amulet) was still effective after undergoing the delicate surgery.

The spinal column surgery is the third major operation Revilla has undergone while serving as a senator. The first was the removal of stones in his gall bladder and the second, a triple heart bypass operation. Both were done at the Makati Medical Center.