Arroyo’s doc: Infection not due to titanium

The bacteria that developed on the neck of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was unlikely an allergic reaction of her body to the titanium plate that was correcting the alignment of her spine, according to her orthopedic surgeon.

Explaining to reporters during Thursday’s medical briefing on Arroyo’s condition, Dr. Mario Ver essentially discounted the possibility of the metal implant causing the infection, which derailed the reconstructive surgery on the patient’s neck last week.

“Titanium implants have been used for a long time. They are supposedly inert,” said Ver. “If there are reports of rejection, these are very rare.”

As far as he could recall, Ver said he could not remember an instance when the patient he put titanium implants in, regardless of what bone was being repaired, developed an allergy.

He pointed out that the metal was widely used in heart stents, hip replacements, and repair clips for fractured skulls, among others.

“From my experience, as far as the implants that have been used, I have no experience, neither for our department, of allergic reactions to the implant,” he added.

Arroyo’s main attending physician Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes indicated that cultures for the bacteria might be available by Saturday, and the medical team could have more evidence on how she contracted the infection.

She said the team has been backtracking since Arroyo’s first day of admission to see if there were breaks in the protocol that could have caused the infection. The counterchecking turned out negative, she claimed.

Aside from antibiotics and complete rest, Cervantes also prescribed “some good vibes” after noticing the former president in a somber mood since being informed about her state.