(25 Feb 2005)

1. Vatican and hospital spokesman Nicola Cerbino walks on stage
2. SOUNDBITE (Italian): Nicola Cerbino, Vatican and Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital Spokesman:
"The flu syndrome, that caused the Pope to be admitted this morning to the Gemelli hospital, has been complicated in the past few days with new episodes leading to acute respiratory insufficiencies, caused by a pre-existing state of the functional stenosis of the larynx. This clinical situation required an elective tracheotomy to assure the adequate ventilation of the patient to favour the resolution of the laryngeal pathology. The Holy Father, was duly informed and has given his consent. The operation began at 20:20 (1920GMT) and ended at 20:50 (1950GMT) and concluded positively. The immediate post-operation course is normal. The Holy Father will spend the night in his room. The surgery was conducted by Professor Gaetano Paludetti, an ear, nose and throat specialist at the Catholic University of the Holy Heart, and Dr. Angelo Camaioni, an ear, nose and throat specialist at the San Giovanni Hospital of Rome, assisted by Professor. Giovanni Almadori. The anaesthesia was handled by Professor Rodolfo Proietti, a specialist of anaesthesiology and resuscitation at the Catholic University of the Holy Heart with the collaboration of Professor Massimo Antonelli and Dr. Filippo Zanghi. Also present during the operation were Professor Enrico Decampora, an ear, nose and throat specialist from the University of Florence, Consultant to the Vatican Health Office, and by Renato Buzzonetti, the Pope''s personal doctor."
3. Cerbino walks off stage

STORYLINE:

Pope John Paul II underwent a successful tracheotomy operation on Thursday to ease his breathing problems, the Vatican said. Earlier in the day, he was rushed back to Rome''s Gemelli Polyclinic with flu for the second time in a month.

The pope was conscious and back in his hospital room late on Thursday, breathing with the help of a respirator, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Vatican and Gemelli Polyclinic spokesman Nicola Cerbino said the operation lasted 30 minutes and "concluded positively".

Cerbino said the 84-year-old pontiff will spend the evening in his room at the Gemelli.

The tracheotomy will probably have serious consequences for the pope''s abilities to carry on his duties.

The operation would prevent him from being able to speak for an extended period and probably require a long hospital stay.

Anaesthesia is also risky for a person of the pope''s age, especially considering the pontiff''s Parkinson''s disease.

The pope was rushed to Gemelli Polyclinic shortly before 11 a.m(10:00GMT).

Vatican officials said on condition of anonymity that the pope was suffering breathing problems similar to those that sent him to Gemelli on February 1.

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