Maradona progressing well after brain surgery
Argentine football great Diego Maradona is progressing well after brain surgery on a blood clot and could be discharged this week, his doctor said Monday.
Maradona, 60, underwent surgery last Tuesday to eliminate a clot lodged between his brain and skull.
"Diego is in the mood to leave, and we are evaluating the discharge that could be tomorrow or probably Wednesday, we must start to see the clinical parameters, however the progress is great," Leopoldo Luque told reporters.
Maradona, who went into isolation fourteen days ago after one of is own bodyguards displayed coronavirus symptoms, had looked unwell throughout a brief appearance on October 30 at his 60th birthday celebration at the stadium of Gimnasia y Esgrima, the Argentine Primera Division team he coaches.
He seemed to have difficulty walking and didn't hang around to watch his side's match.
The next Monday, he was taken to hospital in La Plata, where in fact the club is based, suffering from symptoms of anemia and dehydration.
Tests revealed the blood coagulum, after which Maradona was transferred to a professional clinic in the administrative centre.
Since his surgery, he has progressed well, although Luque had revealed Thursday that Maradona was receiving intensive treatment and sedatives for withdrawal symptoms. This treatment started out to be scaled back on Monday.
Luque also played down a rumor cited by local press about the presence of a Covid-19 patient in the clinic.
"Covid is everywhere, there is nothing here that there surely is not elsewhere, and the care and protocols are followed to perfection," he said.
Luque also avoided specifying where Maradona will recuperate once he is discharged.
"We will discuss these issues when enough time comes, we will discuss them alongside the family. We all agree to take Diego forward," he said.
Maradona has been admitted to hospital 3 x in the last 20 years for serious health issues -- two of which were potentially fatal -- due to his drug and alcohol addictions.
Now free from drugs, Maradona remains reliant on alcohol.
The other day, his doctor had said the football star would require prolonged treatment in a clinic with different specialties compared to the current one.
Maradona's daughters Dalma, Giannina and Jana visit him daily at the clinic.
His oldest son, Diego Jr, who lives in Italy, announced last Thursday on social media that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and therefore would not manage to travel to Buenos Aires.
