Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's failure to wake up from a coma nine days after suffering a massive stroke does not bode well for his recovery, some doctors said today, though others insisted it's still too early to tell.
With extensive brain damage looking likely, however, Israelis have begun to look ahead to life without Sharon.
Mr Sharon (77), remained in "critical but stable" condition today, showing no change from the previous day, said Hadassah Hospital spokesman Ron Krumer.
Israel's Channel 10 TV and Army Radio cited Hadassah officials as saying they were worried that Sharon has shown no signs of awakening, even though doctors recently began weaning him off heavy sedatives used to keep his blood pressure in check and give his brain time to heal.
Mr Sharon's two sons have been playing classical music by his bedside in an effort to rouse him. Although doctors induced a coma, the condition may also be due to the stroke itself.
Channel 1 TV cited one of Mr Sharon's neurosurgeons, Dr Felix Umansky, as saying he was optimistic the prime minister would emerge from his coma within ten days.
But several outside experts said the prognosis looked poor.
"People can often wake up over a period of weeks and months but if they wake up faster obviously it bodes better," said Dr Howard Riina, professor of neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College at NY Presbyterian Hospital. "The fact that he's not completely awake at this point does not bode well for a good neurologic recovery."
Dr Nick Ward, a neurologist at London's University College, was more blunt. "It's a bad prognostic indicator," he said. "He's not going to get back to normal, that's for sure."
Doctors have reported only slight improvement in Mr Sharon's condition in the past several days, centring on small movements of limbs in response to pain.
A brain scan yesterday showed the remnants of blood in his brain have been absorbed, the hospital said. In response, doctors removed a tube they had inserted into his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. The longer it takes for Mr Sharon to regain consciousness, however, the greater the concern about extensive brain damage.
Mr Sharon's stroke plunged both Israeli politics and Mideast peace prospects into turmoil, as he was seen as the politician best positioned to end Israel's conflict with the Palestinians because of his transformation in recent years from hawk to pragmatist, successfully pulling off Israel's historic withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer.
In a sign that Israelis are moving on without Mr Sharon, however, the prime minister's condition was taken off the front pages of several Israeli newspapers today.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with two US envoys today to discuss the January 25th Palestinian parliamentary elections, which have stirred wide concern because of Hamas militants' participation in them. Also today, Israel Radio reported that Mr Olmert will appoint the popular justice minister, Tzipi Livni, as the new foreign minister, which would make her the most senior woman in the government.