Arroyo to undergo another surgery next week

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be undergoing her third surgery earlier than her team of physicians have planned.

Arroyo’s physician Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes said that her patient would undergo a surgery next week as they have found out that the issue with the titanium implant being dislodged was not caused by the infection in her cervical spine. She pegged the tentative date of the surgery to be by Tuesday next week, although she said that it could still change.

She said that the infection did not cause the titanium plate not to heal but an inherent bone problem wherein the bones were in “poor quality to hold screws.” This caused the implant to be dislodged, she said.

Another problem they found was the former president’s low levels of calcium which they suspected to be a case of hypoparathyroidism. Cervantes disclosed that Arroyo’s calcium level was at 5 when the normal level was 8.

Cervantes stated that they were “supplying all the necessary ingredients needed to have stable and strong bones for the next surgery.” She added that her patient was still on antibiotics because of the infection but maintained that the infection was “resolved” and that they just had to continue medication.

Arroyo will be getting a titanium mesh that contains bone graft from a part of her bones in the surgery next week, said Cervantes. She said that they were hopeful that bone growth from the graft would fuse the cervical spines “so we can remove the halo vest.”

The Pampanga representative was not in a serious or critical condition, Cervantes stressed, although she said that “there were times last week that bagsak yung calcium n’ya.”

Dr. Brian Cabral, the nephrologist in the Cervantes’ team of doctors, said that Arroyo had been “doing very well” and was able to “walk around, eat (and) do regular activities.” However, Cervantes said that she “strictly prohibited her from mingling with others” as part of their preparations for her upcoming surgery.

But the congresswoman was in fact “very stable,” said Cabral.

Cabral revealed that Arroyo had a “latent form of hypoparathyroidism” and that “there were no indications prior to surgery that it would be an issue…(it) revealed itself after the second surgery.” He explained that parathyroid controlled where the calcium and phosphorus in the body went.

Arroyo would still be in the CCU and would rest for three to four weeks after the third surgery, while her doctors monitored the mesh for bone growth, said Cervantes.

Cervantes recently stated that the titanium plate in the patient’s spine was dislodged and would need another surgery. But the surgery was called off because of an infection in Arroyo’s cervical spine.

Arroyo’s spokesperson, lawyer Raul Lambino recently denied that his client was urged to seek medical treatment overseas. Cervantes said that they have not had the chance to speak with him and that none of those in their team had advised Arroyo to seek medical attention overseas.

Arroyo underwent surgeries last July 29 and August 10.

Arroyo, like her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, has been placed in the watch list of the Bureau of Immigration by the Department of Justice. Five plunder cases have been filed against the former president. With Katherine Evangelista

Originally posted at 3:22 p.m.