Sharon 'could be sedated for 72 hours'

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon could be sedated for up to 72 hours following emergency surgery for a massive stroke, hospital officials said today.

Dr Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director of Hadassah Hospital, said Sharon would remain in deep sedation and on a respirator to “recover from severe trauma”.

He said the treatment would decrease pressure in the prime minister’s skull. After the sedation period, doctors hope to gradually waken the prime minister.

Dr Mor-Yosef also defended doctors’ decision to treat Sharon with blood thinners after an earlier stroke suffered on December 18, saying Sharon received appropriate doses.

Independent experts said the medication was likely to blame for the severity of the second stroke, but said his doctors should not be criticised for prescribing it.