Arroyo at risk of ‘sudden death’ due to displaced titanium plate implant

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and now Pampanga congresswoman is in danger of “sudden death” because of a displaced titanium plate on parts of her cervical spine, according to a medical bulletin released to the media on Monday by sources close to her.

In the bulletin dated August 11 and signed by Dr. Robert Anastacio, he said the displaced plate affects Arroyo’s breathing and circulation.

“The presence of a displaced titanium plate along C2-C3 is a serious factor in the mechanism of breathing and subsequently blood circulation which may lead to sudden death,” the bulletin stated.

The bulletin also stated that Arroyo is suffering from “40 to 30 percent Coronary Artery Obstruction of her proximal right coronary artery and left descending coronary artery.”

In a separate medical bulletin issued Monday, Anastacio, a resident cardiologist of the MMC, said Arroyo should undergo another Quantum CT-scan to determine “further deterioration of the anterior cervical cage.”

On Aug. 2, the 65-year-old Arroyo suffered neck pain after reportedly choking on a piece of melon and was admitted to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, where she had been on hospital arrest in connection with an electoral sabotage case for almost eight months.

“When I saw the patient during her last confinement, she was very thin and dehydrated with extreme anxiety after an episode of severe swallowing dysfunction, which resulted in an episode of choking,” Anastacio said.

Arroyo has been experiencing extreme difficulty in eating and swallowing even water.

Earlier radio reports said Arroyo was taken to the MMC  Monday for another CT-scan around 8 a.m.

The staff of the Makati Medical Center, however, would not confirm about the details of her checkup. They said the details contained in the medical bulletin are the only information they could disclose to the media.

Originally posted at 1:22 pm | Monday, August 13, 2012