Sharon to have more surgery, still in coma: hospital

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s Ariel Sharon, still comatose
after a massive stroke, will undergo surgery on Tuesday
afternoon to close a hole doctors made in his head during
previous operations, hospital officials said on Monday.

The 78-year-old, still officially prime minister for the
time being, was hospitalized in January after a brain
hemorrhage and has since been in what doctors called a
“critical but stable condition.”

Since the stroke, Sharon has undergone several operations,
including brain surgery to stop bleeding in his head and the
removal of some of his intestine. He remains unconscious at
Haddassah hospital in Jerusalem.

Doctors have speculated that in the coming weeks Sharon
will be moved to a nursing home intended for long-term comatose
patients requiring constant medical care.

Sharon was replaced by interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
whose Kadima party emerged as the largest party in last week’s
Israeli general election. Olmert is expected succeed Sharon in
the official capacity of prime minister in the coming weeks.