Alex Zanardi has undergone a second neurosurgery and remains in a serious condition in Siena Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
Zanardi was involved in a road collision 10 days ago and doctors carried out neurosurgery and maxillofacial surgery in order to tend to a severe head injury.
Zanardi has been in an induced coma in the ICU ever since and on Monday the hospital provided its first update in five days.
“As part of the diagnostic-therapeutic evaluations carried out by the team treating Zanardi, a CT scan was performed,” read a statement.
“This diagnostic examination showed an evolution of the patient’s state which made it necessary to resort to a second neurosurgery.
“After the operation, which lasted about two-and-a-half-hours, Zanardi was again hospitalised in the intensive care unit where he remains sedated and intubated: his conditions remain stable from the cardio-respiratory and metabolic point of view, severe from the neurological point of view, the prognosis remains confidential.”
Zanardi, 53, started 41 Formula 1 grands prix in the 1990s either side of a title-winning spell in CART.
“The intervention carried out represents a step that had been hypothesised by the team,” said Roberto Gusinu, the hospital’s Health Director.
“Our professionals will evaluate the evolution of the situation day by day and in agreement with the family the next bulletin will be released in about 24 hours.”
