Cuban leader Fidel Castro, 80, is in grave condition following three unsuccessful intestinal surgeries and a subsequent infection that has developed into peritonitis, Spain's El Pais reported Monday, citing sources at Madrid's Gregorio Maranon hospital.
According to those hospital sources, Castro first developed large intestine inflammation in early 2006, leading to removal of part of the large intestine and rectum. Persistent infection required a second procedure to remove those organs entirely. He then developed a bile duct blockage that prevented digestive enzymes from reaching the small intestine.
Doctors fitted Castro with an artificial bile duct from South Korea, which failed and was replaced with a Spanish-made device. Hospital sources told El Pais that bile duct conditions of this type carry a mortality rate of roughly 80 percent.
The hospital's surgery chief, Garcia Sabrido, had traveled to Havana in late December and described Castro's condition publicly as "fine" upon returning, citing medical confidentiality for not elaborating further.
Castro transferred authority to his brother Raul in late July 2006 and has not appeared publicly since. US intelligence director John Negroponte said last week that Castro may have only days or months to live.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in January 2007, in its own words.