The Vatican has issued a fresh update on the health of Pope Francis after the Pontiff was put on a ventilator after suffering an 'isolated' breathing crisis.
The Pope, 88, has not suffered any new respiratory attacks today and remains in a stable condition, the Vatican announced in a statement.
'The Holy Father's clinical condition remains stable,' a statement read.
'He is alternating between non-invasive mechanical ventilation and long periods of supplemental high-flow oxygenation, maintaining a good response to gas exchange.
'The Holy Father does not have a fever and shows no leukocytosis [high white blood cell count].
'His haemodynamic parameters have always remained stable; he has continued eat on his own and has regularly undergone respiratory physiotherapy, in which he cooperates actively. He has not experienced any further episodes of bronchospasm.
'The Holy Father remains alert and oriented. He received the Eucharist on Saturday afternoon, then devoted himself to prayer.
'The prognosis remains guarded.'
The Pontiff had been put on non-invasive mechanical ventilation on Friday by doctors at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after suffering a coughing fit in which he inhaled vomit. The incident resulted in the 'sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.'
Doctors aspirated the vomit and placed Francis on non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
The Pope remained conscious and alert at all times and co-operated with the manoeuvres to help him recover. He responded well, with a good level of oxygen exchange and was continuing to wear a mask to receive supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said.
The episode marked a setback after two days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors who have been treating Francis at Rome's Gemelli Hospital since February 14.
The Pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into pneumonia in both lungs.
The Vatican said the episode was different to the prolonged respiratory crisis on February 22, in that it was an isolated spasm that resulted in Francis aspirating the vomit that he produced.
Dr John Coleman, a pulmonary critical care doctor at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago said: 'I think this is extremely concerning, given the fact that the Pope has been in the hospital now for over two weeks, and now he's continuing to have these respiratory events and now had this aspiration event that is requiring even higher levels of support.
'So given his age and his fragile state and his previous lung resection, this is very concerning.'
