The Supreme Patriarch has undergone surgery to treat bacterial infections in his intestines, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital announced late Monday night.
According to the hospital’s announcement, a medical team treating His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara found he was unwell and had low blood pressure from a bacterial infection of the blood found Monday morning.
The Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (file photo by Office of the Supreme Patriarch's Secretary)
A thorough examination of the 100-year-old revered monk showed he had intestinal ischemia and bacterial infections in his colon and small intestine, prompting the medical team to perform the surgery to remove parts of his bowels.
After the surgery, the overall condition of His Holiness had improved but he requires close medical attention, it said.
The Supreme Patriarch has been ill since Feb 20, 2002, when he was admitted to Chulalongkorn Hospital. He turned 100 on Oct 3.
Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangkhlachan, 87, the abbot of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, is currently serving as chairman of the monastic panel acting on behalf of the Supreme Patriarch.
His predecessor Somdej Phra Buddhacharn, the abbot of Wat Saket, died on Aug 10.