Doctors estimate that Salvador Illa's treatment will last eight weeks.
The president left the hospital on his own two feet, using crutches, and will continue to receive medical care at home.
BarcelonaAfter two weeks, the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, left Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona this Friday. His progress is positive, according to doctors, so he will continue his recovery at home. The medical team has not yet set a date for when he might return to work, as this will depend on his progress. However, at a press conference, both the hospital's managing director, Albert Salazar, and the head of infectious diseases, Dolors Rodríguez, explained that the illness he suffers from has an eight-week treatment protocol. He has already spent two weeks in the hospital. They were accompanied by the head of the home hospitalization service, Francesc Xavier Jiménez, who explained that a medical team from Vall d'Hebron will continue treating him at home. Salvador Illa left the hospital on his own two feet, using crutches, and went home by car. The president himself wrote a message to X a few hours later: "I'm already home, from where I must continue treatment at Vall d'Hebron Hospital for a few more days under medical supervision," he stated, before also thanking the hospital staff for their work: "Our public healthcare system is a source of pride."
Isla was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Vall d'Hebron Hospital on Saturday, January 17, after experiencing severe leg pain that made walking difficult. Doctors ruled out any life-threatening tumors or vascular conditions during the following hours. and 48 hours later they arrived at the diagnosisA pubic osteomyelitis, with an initial expectation of a two-week hospital stay. He then began intravenous antibiotic treatment, which will need to continue for some time. Afterward, he will be able to switch to oral antibiotics.
"It's a considerable illness"
Pubic osteomyelitis is a "very rare" infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus dysgalactiae, which is part of the normal flora of microbes present on the skin and in the pharynx and rarely causes infections. In Isla's case, the bacteria entered his bloodstream and from there spread to the pubic symphysis and the external pharyngeal muscle, one of the muscles that attaches there. "It was a potentially serious condition; it could have been severe sepsis, but it was quickly brought under control. His progress is good," noted Dr. Rodríguez. Although both the medical team and the President's staff reported that the President was in good spirits during his hospitalization, Salazar emphasized that osteomyelitis "is not something to be taken lightly." "It's a significant illness," he said. The doctors also did not specify a timeline for when his rehabilitation in terms of mobility might begin, and that it will continue at home with physiotherapy sessions. The team highlighted that Isla's good physical condition, as he enjoys running, will aid his recovery, which is expected to be "full" in "a few weeks." Since he went on leave It has been the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, who has led the Government, in constant contact with Isla both through visits to the hospital and by telephone.
The pain is under control.
The fact that Isla now has his pain "under control," which was initially quite intense, makes it easier for him to keep up with current events in Catalonia, although doctors have prescribed rest. "He's in very good spirits and eager to get back to work as soon as possible. He'll have to follow his medical team's advice," Salazar emphasized. According to Dr. Jiménez, head of the home hospitalization service, it's "common" for these types of infections to be treated at home once the patient is stabilized, allowing for recovery in a more comfortable environment with family. The service allows for intravenous medication administration, as will be the case here, and even for tests like ultrasounds to be performed at home. "It's a discharge from the hospital to go home, but it's not a discharge for the patient," Rodríguez stressed.
The director of Vall d'Hebron Hospital took the opportunity to thank all the professionals involved in the president's treatment and praised the "jewel" that is public healthcare: faced with such a "complex" case as Isla's, a diagnosis was reached in record time. He also explained that, during his stay at the hospital, Isla showed interest in the doctors, nurses, and orderlies who cared for him, and in learning about their working conditions. This was especially true in the last week, when he was "improving more and more."
