Ashcroft Still in Hospital, Awaiting Test Results

AP ^ | 3-6-04

[Indy Pendance]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General John Ashcroft remained hospitalized Saturday in an intensive care unit for treatment of a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis, a serious and painful abdominal illness.

Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo said Ashcroft was being treated with antibiotics and painkillers. Corallo said there has been no change in his condition.

Doctors were still evaluating the attorney general and awaiting results of tests before deciding on their next steps, which could include surgery.

Pancreatitis is treated with antibiotics and fasting, and often clears up after a week or so. But in some cases, surgery is required. In extreme cases, it can kill.

Ashcroft, 61, became ill Thursday but initially thought he had a stomach flu. His condition worsened and he was admitted to the George Washington University Hospital later that night.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, a gland that secretes digestive enzymes and insulin. The two main causes are alcohol abuse and, as in Ashcroft's case, a gallstone blocking the passage from the pancreas to the beginning of the small intestine. It also can be caused by infection, injury or certain medications.

Symptoms include sudden, severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fever.

[Charles Henrickson]

Gallstone pancreatitis.

Lousy French.

[meenie]

Pancreaitis is caused by stones blocking the tube leading to the gall. Time to get the knife out. Antibiotics for several days and time to operate when the antibiotic levels reach a good level in the blood. This is not good.

[FairOpinion]

It's been two days. This is not good.

I hope he beats it. This can be very serious, even life threatening.

[OldFriend]

It's the weekend. No test results.

Typical hospital routine!

[Ethrane]

Actually, in most cases you do NOT operate on someone with ACUTE pancreatitis...unless the symptoms do not resolve spontaneously with bowel rest, antibiotics and pain meds AND attempts to dislodge/remove the stone via endoscopy fail.

Operating on someone with acute pancreatitis is high risk endeavor.

[latrans]

I would be a little upset that the stone has not yet been removed with a scope. A common procedure according to my
gastroenterologist. What are they waiting for?

[Indie]

What are they waiting for?

A Rat ER doc perhaps?

Prayers for the AG and his family.