Pope Francis will resume "non-invasive mechanical ventilation" Tuesday despite his condition remaining stable, the Vatican announced in an evening update.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into a complex pneumonia in both lungs.
Pope Francis, who has been struggling to overcome double pneumonia for almost three weeks, was taken off mechanical ventilation on Wednesday after using it through the night to help with his breathing,
ROME (AP) — A stable Pope Francis had a visit Sunday from the Vatican secretary of state as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia, but again skipped his weekly noon blessing to avoid even a brief public appearance from the hospital.
The Vatican says that Pope Francis has suffered two new episodes of acute respiratory crises and has been put back on noninvasive mechanical ventilation.
Pope Francis has stabilized enough after two respiratory crises to be taken off noninvasive mechanical ventilation and resume receiving just high flows of supplemental oxygen via a nasal tube to help him breathe,
Pope Francis' health has improved, Vatican sources indicated to CBS News on Friday, saying he was not currently in critical condition after exactly two weeks in hospital for bronchitis that developed into pneumonia in both lungs.
The morning after suffering two acute episodes of respiratory crisis, Pope Francis no longer needed oxygen through a breathing mask, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis remained stable through the day on Sunday and no longer required the use of mechanical ventilation to breathe, the Vatican said, in a sign of progress as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.
On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead ... to stave off intubation or the use of more invasive mechanical ventilation. Francis has not been intubated during this hospitalization.
Pope Francis will resume "non-invasive mechanical ventilation" Tuesday despite his condition remaining stable, the Vatican announced. "Today the Holy Father’s clinical conditions remained stable.
The 88-year-old pope did continue to receive high flow supplemental oxygen after Friday’s coughing episode, which sparked fears of a new lung infection.