Marcos Suffers Kidney Failure; ‘Very Critical’

Former Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos was in “very critical” condition Thursday, suffering from kidney, cardiac and pulmonary failure, hospital officials said.

Marcos, 71, suffered acute renal failure and was taken to St. Francis Medical Center’s operating room late Thursday morning for vascular access surgery, according to Gene Tiwanak, the hospital’s assistant administrator.

Marcos also suffered cardiac and pulmonary failure, Tiwanak said.

“The prognosis is very poor, and his condition is very critical,” Tiwanak said.

Marcos, who was undergoing kidney dialysis, suffered severe infection, including pneumonia, according to Dr. Azucena Ignacio, his personal physician and an internist at St. Francis.

Receiving Medication

Ignacio said Marcos was being treated with antibiotics and a heart medication, which she refused to name.

“Some medications are working, some are not,” Ignacio said.

The Marcos family was informed of his worsening condition and that he was conscious before surgery and had been conscious on and off since, she said.

In the 2 3/4-hour surgical procedure, his veins were prepared for hemodialysis, or the removal of body wastes from his blood by machine, Tiwanak said.

“The problem is that his kidneys failed and we had to get him on dialysis quick,” Tiwanak said.

The deposed president, who is also suffering from pneumonia, was placed on dialysis in the hospital’s intensive care unit, Tiwanak said.

The procedure is not life-threatening, but the hours following the surgery were expected to be crucial, considering Marcos’ frail health, the hospital administrator said.

Earlier, Marcos spokesman Gemmo Trinidad had said Marcos had only a 2% chance of surviving the operation, but Tiwanak refused to comment on Marcos’ prospects.

Marcos’ wife, Imelda, was praying in the hospital chapel with son Ferdinand Jr., Trinidad said.