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[darwin dali]

As I suspected, the surgeons are treating the swelling:

James Allen:

It has now become clear how severe the situation is for seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, following his ski accident this morning.

According to a statement this evening from the hospital in Grenoble where he is being treated, the German is in a “critical” condition, in an induced coma following emergency surgery to reduce swelling in the brain.

The next 48 hours are critical, according to neurological experts, to observe whether the swelling continues or not. After that neurological tests can be carried out to assess what damage the brain has sustained.

Schumacher was skiing off piste in one of Meribel’s most challenging ski areas, when he fell and struck his head on a rock. He was wearing a helmet but the blow was severe. He was taken first to a local hospital and then airlifted to Grenoble.

“Mr Schumacher was admitted.. at 12-40 following a ski accident at Meribel this morning,” said a statement from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble.

“He was suffering from a serious brain trauma with a coma when he arrived, which necessitated an immediate neurological intervention.

“He remains in a critical condition.”

[spankyham]

Hoping he pulls through all this and must be really horrible for his wife and kids. Come on Schumi, pull through mate.

[operaman]

Hoping he pulls through all this and must be really horrible for his wife and kids. Come on Schumi, pull through mate.

I can't even imagine how awful it must be for them, and his parents too (if they are still alive).

[Jabberwocky]

Didn't his mum die just before a go? Micheal and Ralf both got on the podium from memory.

Sent using NCC-1701

[Nin-Chin]

2003 San Marino GP, his Mum died on the morning of race day, no champagne was sprayed in her honour.

[Stephen]

Fingers, toes, everything crossed.

[bud]

Pull through Schumi!!
I am not a religious man but i will pray for you.

[sagi58]

I wasn't near any media updates until now. Thank you for all those links!

I can't believe he's fighting for his life!!

Will stay up until we hear GOOD news!!

[sagi58]

Apparently Ross Brawn is at the hospital, too!!

Is that good or bad news??

[sagi58]

Here's what the doctor has to say!!

[Hammer278]

All the very best to the Schum. He's incredibly fit physically and also mentally, if anyone can pull through it he can.

[sagi58]

Ed Malyon & Anthony Bond wrote:">http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1 ... la-2969745

8:23 am
Former F1 doctor Gary Hartstein has been incredibly informative in delivering a medical perspective on Schumacher's injury.

He wrote: "Not surprising at all to wait to 1000h GMT. Gives docs a chance to do rounds, see new CT scans, check blood results. That is perfectly fine.

"What we want to hear is: 1) off or starting to come off the respirator. 2) intracranial pressure staying normal. If we hear this, we're ok."

8:47 am
There are unconfirmed reports in the French media that Schumacher had a second operation overnight.

Responding to that thought, Gary Hartstein writes: "Rumors of a 2nd operation would ofc not be welcome news. Will actively repress that thought until later if necessary."

There is no official word to confirm this and we're awaiting an update from the hospital at around 10am GMT.

[CookinFlat6]

After reading the facts and understanding the procedure, I hope and expect MS will pull through

Former F1 doctor Gary Hartstein took to Twitter on Sunday night to explain the medical implications of Michael Schumacher's injury.

According to reports in France, Schumacher suffered "cranial hemorrhaging" when he hit his head on a rock while skiing with his son on Sunday morning.

The 44-year-old remains in a coma in a Grenoble hospital after undergoing "immediate neurosurgical treatment" on a head trauma.

Hartstein, who was axed as F1's doctor in 2012, shared his medical knowledge on Schumacher's condition.

"It's quite well known that extradural hematomas, a kind of cerebral hemorrhage, can leave a lucid interval after injury," he wrote on Twitter, former_f1doc.

"Then as the hematoma forms, the sudden increase in pressure causes sudden and dramatic symptoms. Pressure must be relieved rapidly.

"This is done with a neurosurgical intervention. Then the victim is observed in an ICU environment.

"Quality of recovery depends on: 1) severity of initial injury 2) acuteness and amplitude of pressure rise when hematoma forms 3) rapidity with which it is drained 4) quality of neuro intensive care and rehab.

"About the "induced coma". Lets demystify it just a bit. Any severe head injury leads to a loss of coordination of tongue and throat muscles.

"Happens to some when they sleep - called SNORING. But this is respiratory obstruction and causes CO2 to rise and oxygen to fall.

"But the brain wants oxygen and hates CO2. So we put tubes in these patient's tracheas and use respirators. This protects the airway.

"And gives excellent control of ventilation and oxygenation. But to intubate someone, he or she needs to be pretty deeply anesthetised.

"So this is the usual "artificial coma". It IS a induced coma, but in fact it's like a prolonged, protective, anesthetic.

"So what's next? Simply put, providing the brain with the most normal conditions possible, while avoiding usual ICU threats.

"This means normal oxygenation and CO2 levels, normal blood flow. Normal blood sugar. Strictly avoiding fever. And any irritative seizures.

"Maintaining normal intracranial pressure. This is no doubt being monitored and can be acted on in a number of ways.

"In terms of avoiding complications, weaning from ventilatory support and intubation as soon as clinically possible is high on the list.

"Getting the patient fed fully, using the GI tract, is important too. Measures to avoid venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism are standard."

The next update on Schumacher's condition is expected at 10am local time with Hartstein explaining that the timing gives Schumacher's doctors the opportunity to run more tests.

"Not surprising at all to wait to 1000h GMT. Gives docs a chance to do rounds, see new CT scans, check blood results. That is perfectly fine.

"What we want to hear is: 1) off or starting to come off the respirator. 2) intracranial pressure staying normal. If we hear this, we're ok.

"And obviously anything better is, well, better."

[sagi58]

I read that, last night, Cookin! It sounded very hopeful!
But, I woke to those "tweets", which included Harstein's comment:

"Rumors of a 2nd operation would ofc not be welcome news. Will actively repress that thought until later if necessary."

Holding my breath, crossing my fingers, and praying!!

[CookinFlat6]

The idea of MS in a coma is what has frightened many. Apart from rumours of a second op, its more positive to see it as everything being done and so far everything according to a known procedure.

Only at 1000 can we know more, he will be fine