Niki Lauda: His doctor Walter Klepetko makes first prognosis
Not only racing fans are worried about Niki Lauda (69). After his successful lung transplant, he is still in the intensive care unit of the General Hospital (AKH) in Vienna. In conversation with the "Bild" newspaper Laudas treating physician Walter Klepetko has now made an update on the health status of the racing legend.
Lauda's condition is stable and one is "very, very satisfied with his development", the doctor asks the question about Lauda's condition. The complex operation took six hours and was thus in the "realm of the normal," according to Klepetko. Even visitors can receive Lauda with restrictions: "The contact is completely free, it must only be taken to ensure that people who have an infection, stay away from him," says the doctor opposite "image".
These are the prospects
From Lauda's will to work his way back to life, Dr. Klepetko is convinced: "It will not be so easy to find a bigger fighter than Niki Lauda, so the prerequisite is perfect."
As optimistic as the attending physician expresses Lauda's current state of health, he also stresses the euphoria-brake: "Patients who have had their lungs transplanted generally have a very short life expectancy. (...) We are currently involved a one-year life expectancy of about 92 percent and a five-year life expectancy of about 75 percent. " The operation would definitely be worthwhile, however, because of the tremendous gain in quality of life.
