There may still be a long way to go, but we finally had some positive news on Michael Schumacher's condition after doctors said he is showing "slight improvement" following a second operation.
In a press conference at the Grenoble Hospital on Tuesday morning, doctors confirmed that the 44-year-old underwent a two-hour operation on Monday night at 10pm to relieve pressure on the brain.
Following a scan on Monday evening, doctors saw slight improvement in his condition. This enabled them to ask Schumacher's family if they could complete "another surgical intervention" to reduce the intercranial pressure by removing a hematoma on the left side of his brain.
His family, who released a statement on the previous day thanking fans and the medical team, gave permission for the surgery to take place and remain at his bedside. A brain scan following the operation also showed a slight and unexpected improvement.
The seven-time F1 champion suffered head injuries after falling and hitting his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps. He was originally taken to Moutiers hospital before being helicoptered to a larger facility, specialising in brain injuries, in Grenoble.
He was put in a medically-induced coma and his body temperature is currently being kept at a cool temperature to help reduce the swelling of the brain.
Talking about the developments over the last 24 hours, Professor Jean-Francois Payen said: "At the end of yesterday afternoon we had an improvement of intracranial pressure and we were able to carry out a scan without taking any kind on unnecessary risk. That scan showed a few signs that were relatively stable and I would like to underline that - in other words we had no sign that there was a worsening on of the initial legions.
"At that moment, talking to our neurological surgeons, taking into consideration his state had slightly improved, we suggested we would carry out a surgical intervention that had not been originally envisioned but that allowed us in the evening to treat in a more efficient fashion and in a more radical fashion to try and eliminate this intracranial pressure.
"This was carried out during the night with relatively good efficiency which allowed his this morning to look at new images and we were able to see that this hematoma had been evacuated in a very correct and very satisfactory fashion and we now have a few signs that currently can allow us to feel that it is better controlled than it was yesterday."
While improvements have been shown in his condition, doctors have stressed that he is not "out of danger" yet and his condition is still critical. "The situation is better controlled than it was yesterday, but we are unable to say that he is out of danger, however, we have gained a bit of time, with regard to development, but once again the coming hours are still critical," Payen added.
Doctors also confirmed that there are more lesions and hematomas on his brain that are currently inaccessible to treat. They will monitor his condition on an hourly basis and added that he will remain in a coma for as long as is necessary.
My thoughts are with Schumacher and his family, I wish him a speedy recovery.
UPDATE:
On Wednesday, his manager Sabine Kehm made a brief statement to media outside Grenoble hospital.
"Michael has been carefully supervised overnight, and his condition at the moment is stable and has been stable all over the night," she said. "That’s why we don’t feel to have the need to do a press conference, because as we told all of you we would only hold a press conference if there’s something to report."
When pressed for further information, she added: "It is good news for today, this minute – but overall he is still in a critical condition. Do not judge too much out of this. We have no clue about the next 24 hours."
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Following a scan on Monday evening, doctors saw slight improvement in his condition. This enabled them to ask Schumacher's family if they could complete "another surgical intervention" to reduce the intercranial pressure by removing a hematoma on the left side of his brain.
His family, who released a statement on the previous day thanking fans and the medical team, gave permission for the surgery to take place and remain at his bedside. A brain scan following the operation also showed a slight and unexpected improvement.
The seven-time F1 champion suffered head injuries after falling and hitting his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps. He was originally taken to Moutiers hospital before being helicoptered to a larger facility, specialising in brain injuries, in Grenoble.
He was put in a medically-induced coma and his body temperature is currently being kept at a cool temperature to help reduce the swelling of the brain.
Talking about the developments over the last 24 hours, Professor Jean-Francois Payen said: "At the end of yesterday afternoon we had an improvement of intracranial pressure and we were able to carry out a scan without taking any kind on unnecessary risk. That scan showed a few signs that were relatively stable and I would like to underline that - in other words we had no sign that there was a worsening on of the initial legions.
"At that moment, talking to our neurological surgeons, taking into consideration his state had slightly improved, we suggested we would carry out a surgical intervention that had not been originally envisioned but that allowed us in the evening to treat in a more efficient fashion and in a more radical fashion to try and eliminate this intracranial pressure.
"This was carried out during the night with relatively good efficiency which allowed his this morning to look at new images and we were able to see that this hematoma had been evacuated in a very correct and very satisfactory fashion and we now have a few signs that currently can allow us to feel that it is better controlled than it was yesterday."
While improvements have been shown in his condition, doctors have stressed that he is not "out of danger" yet and his condition is still critical. "The situation is better controlled than it was yesterday, but we are unable to say that he is out of danger, however, we have gained a bit of time, with regard to development, but once again the coming hours are still critical," Payen added.
Doctors also confirmed that there are more lesions and hematomas on his brain that are currently inaccessible to treat. They will monitor his condition on an hourly basis and added that he will remain in a coma for as long as is necessary.
My thoughts are with Schumacher and his family, I wish him a speedy recovery.
UPDATE:
On Wednesday, his manager Sabine Kehm made a brief statement to media outside Grenoble hospital.
"Michael has been carefully supervised overnight, and his condition at the moment is stable and has been stable all over the night," she said. "That’s why we don’t feel to have the need to do a press conference, because as we told all of you we would only hold a press conference if there’s something to report."
When pressed for further information, she added: "It is good news for today, this minute – but overall he is still in a critical condition. Do not judge too much out of this. We have no clue about the next 24 hours."
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