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Home Front: WoT
Giffords Off Respirator a Week After Shooting
2011-01-16
Doctors have removed Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords from a respirator, a week after she was shot in the head while speaking to constituents in Arizona.

In a statement Saturday, hospital officials said doctors performed surgery Saturday to replace the breathing tube threaded down her throat with one inserted in her windpipe.
So she has a tracheostomy. That's typical for someone in critical care for major brain injury. That will be removed once she really turns the corner.
Giffords was already breathing on her own, but the respirator and breathing tube helped protect against fluid gathering in her lungs. Doctors said removing the respirator would give them a chance to assess Gifford's ability to speak after the brain injury.

The hospital statement said doctors had also given Giffords a feeding tube. It said both procedures are common for patients with brain injuries.
Posted by:Steve White

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