JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former Israeli President Shimon Peres remains sedated and on a respirator two days after suffering a massive stroke, his office said.
Peres’ status “remains unchanged,” a statement issued Thursday by his spokesperson said.
“He is being closely monitored by his doctors, and continues to receive treatment as previously set forth,” the statement said. “To enable him to rest, he is still sedated and on a respirator.”
Peres, 93, remains classified as in stable but serious condition.
His doctors and family members say that he has been responsive to activity around him when the anesthesia keeping him in a medically induced coma is lowered. He remains sedated to prevent him from overexerting himself and to promote recovery.
On Tuesday, he was taken to Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer near Tel Aviv after telling his doctor that he felt weak. A pacemaker had been implanted in Peres a week prior.
Peres was diagnosed in July with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. In January, the veteran statesman had a heart attack and then cardiac angioplasty to open a blocked artery. He was hospitalized twice more with chest pains.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Peres’ bedside on Wednesday evening, where he spoke with family members and Peres’ doctors.
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