Pope Francis suffered two new episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency” and was put back on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said on Monday evening.
The 88-year-old pontiff inhaled “copious” amounts of mucus in another setback in what has become a more than two-week battle to overcome a complex respiratory infection and pneumonia.
In a late update on Monday, the Vatican said the episodes were caused by a “significant accumulation” of mucus in his lungs and bronchial spasms.
“Two bronchoscopies were performed with the need for aspiration of copious secretions,” the Vatican said.
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He remained alert and oriented, while the prognosis remains guarded.
Earlier on Monday, the Vatican had released a one-line note saying the pope “rested well all night”.
The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14th with severe respiratory problems that swiftly degenerated into double pneumonia – a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe.
On Friday, the pope suffered a constriction of his respiratory airways, akin to an asthma attack, that required him to be aspirated.
On Sunday evening, the Vatican said the pope’s condition was stable and he no longer required the use of what was described as “non-invasive, mechanical ventilation”.
He has experienced several bouts of ill health over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. – Reuters/ AP
