Diplomat Richard Holbrooke in critical condition (hole in Aorta)

Reuters ^ | 11 DEC 10 | Reporting by Arshad Mohammed, editing by Will Dunham

[DCBryan1]

(Reuters) - Richard Holbrooke, President Barack Obama's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was in critical condition after doctors completed surgery to repair a tear in his aorta on Saturday, the State Department said.

The 69-year-old veteran U.S. diplomat was a key figure in forging the 1995 accord that ended the Balkans war.

Holbrooke fell ill at the State Department on Friday. The department issued a statement saying Holbrooke was admitted to nearby George Washington University hospital on Friday.

"This morning, doctors completed surgery to repair a tear in his aorta," the statement said. "He is in critical condition and has been joined by his family."

The aorta is the body's biggest artery. An artery is a vessel that transports blood away from the heart to other parts of the body.

With a meteoric career that included stints in Vietnam as well as serving as the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, for Europe and at the United Nations, Holbrooke's most notable achievement was bringing all sides in the Bosnia conflict to the negotiating table at an air base in Dayton, Ohio. The resulting 1995 Dayton accords ended the conflict.

Holbrooke, who has worked as an executive in the financial sector when not at the State Department, was said to be a candidate for secretary of state before the job went to Hillary Clinton.

(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed, editing by Will Dunham)

[DCBryan1]

How do you tear a hole in your aorta? Is this similar to having a .45 ACP hole in your skull being declaired as a result of an aircraft crashing ala Ron Brown? Prayers anyways.

[ozzie]

probably an aortic dissection very risky situation.

[biggerten]

Godspeed, Ambassador Holbrooke. I differ with you on policy many times, but get well soon.

[DCBryan1]

aortic dissection

Yikes! Thanks for the info!

Prognosis

Aortic dissection is life threatening. The condition can be cured with surgery if it is done before the aorta ruptures. Less than half of patients with ruptured aorta survive.

[Steely Tom]

probably an aortic dissection

That's what killed John Ritter.

[Jeff Chandler]

Scooter Libby was unavailable for comment.

[EggsAckley]

My Dad had a six inch tear in his aorta. Went through 15 hour surgery and survived.

In his tenth week of recovery, he passed away from the “hospital special”, staph infection.

[Cicero]

The 69-year-old veteran U.S. diplomat was a key figure in forging the 1995 accord that ended the Balkans war.

Holbrooke helped clinton fight that war ON THE WRONG SIDE, to help distract attention from Monicagate. And he helped hand over the province of Kosovo to the Albanian Muslim invaders, who were gangster drug smugglers as well as Muslims.

It was the single worst thing that Clinton did in his time in office. And Holbrooke was one of his right-hand men in this dirty deal. It violated the traditional laws of nations, international law, and the letter of UN law, but of course the UN is controlled by a coalition of dictators which includes the 57 Muslim states.

I wish him well personally. But as an ambassador, continuing to work against our civilization and our national interests, he will not be missed.

[MsLady]

Amen!!! This is very bad.

[MsLady]

My father in law had the same thing. He was lucky, they caught his before it burst. They repair it and put a cage around the artery.

[zerosix]

A few years ago, a "near rupture stage" of his aorta was found during a routine MRI on the back of my father-in-law. He was advised to have surgery immediately but as his wife was in the final stages of cancer, he put surgery off until after her death and funeral.

The docs at Cleveland Clinic in FL did a 9 hr surgery and used an animal vein. Later the doc told us he now had the aorta of a 25 year old and might even outlive us, thanks to the excellent "health care" in the United States of America.

Ten years after surgery, he passed away (2 years ago) at age 85.

God willing, Mr. Holbrooke's tear was found in enough time to save his life but finding out about the situation "after the fact" usually results in death.

[Doc Savage]

Don’t you just hate when that happens?

[La Lydia]

There is hope for him, he is at the same hospital Cheney goes to for his heart problems. I think what happens is the aorta ruptures.

[Uncle Hal]

My wife had an aortic dissection and had to have emergency surgery. Luckily she had pain and we called paramedics who rushed her to the emergency room and they diagnosed the problem. The surgeons said without surgery a patient will generally survive a maximum of 4 days. This is very serious. My wife is fine now but she has to be on a low salt diet and exercise regularly and keep her blood pressure down.

[katana]

Many years ago, early on in the Clinton administration, I was part of a small group given an “audience” with this piece of work at an American embassy. I can’t express an honest opinion of Ambassador Holbrooke without violating a rule regarding comments about the dead or dying, but let’s just say there are people in Belgrade making toasts tonight, and not about Christmas.

[The Comedian]

Serbian-karma ping.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[rollo tomasi]

"...without violating a rule regarding comments about the dead or dying..."

I say fire away, this the story on what the Good Lord had to say about the dead:

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

[dennisw]

I’m skipping Holbrook. My prayers are with the people of Upper Volta and Timbuktu

[rollo tomasi]

Sorry, meant to put quotes around "dead":, as in Spiritually dead.

Why should a man's evil deeds, the deeds that define the individual, be subjected to a noble status based on the earthly body deteriorating?

I will not cheer, but will not sanctify either, just live to tell the truth.

[goat granny]

Also even thou the rich man was dead, he still thought he could command Abraham and the begger to get him what he wanted...What we are when we die is what we will be after death...no magic changing of what and who we are takes place... JMHO