Two days Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was transferred from Tucson to a Houston rehabilitation center, she remains in intensive care because of a buildup of fluid in her brain.
The fluid, doctors said Saturday, doesn't appear to be infected, but the Houston Chronicle's Todd Ackerman reports, it will likely keep her Giffords from entering full-fledged rehabilitation until at least next week.
On Friday, Giffords was flown from Tuscon to the Texas Medical Center in Houston, where she had been scheduled to enter the Institute of Rehabilitation and Research. While the transfer went smoothly, Dr. John Holcomb, one of Giffords' doctors, told reporters that the trip had been medically "stressful" for the congresswoman, who was shot in the head at point blank range two weeks ago.
For now, doctors are draining the fluid in her skull through a catheter but they said Saturday there was a possibility of inserting a permanent shunt.
"We just have to wait and see if the fluid buildup issue solves itself," Holcomb said.
(Photo of Giffords being taken aboard a medical helicopter in Houston: Giffords' office via AP) Yahoo news
The fluid, doctors said Saturday, doesn't appear to be infected, but the Houston Chronicle's Todd Ackerman reports, it will likely keep her Giffords from entering full-fledged rehabilitation until at least next week.
On Friday, Giffords was flown from Tuscon to the Texas Medical Center in Houston, where she had been scheduled to enter the Institute of Rehabilitation and Research. While the transfer went smoothly, Dr. John Holcomb, one of Giffords' doctors, told reporters that the trip had been medically "stressful" for the congresswoman, who was shot in the head at point blank range two weeks ago.
For now, doctors are draining the fluid in her skull through a catheter but they said Saturday there was a possibility of inserting a permanent shunt.
"We just have to wait and see if the fluid buildup issue solves itself," Holcomb said.
(Photo of Giffords being taken aboard a medical helicopter in Houston: Giffords' office via AP)
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