US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized due to a urinary tract infection following a surgical procedure in December to treat prostate cancer. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center revealed this information on Tuesday.
The disclosure raised concerns as the Pentagon faced public backlash for its lack of transparency regarding Austin’s hospitalization. President Joe Biden and Austin’s own deputy were reportedly unaware of the situation for several days.
As the second-in-command in the US military’s command structure, Austin is expected to be ready to handle national security crises at any moment. The cancer was detected during a regular screening in early December, leading to his admission to Walter Reed on December 22 for a minimally invasive surgical procedure.
After the surgery, Austin returned home, but last week he experienced complications, including severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain, along with nausea. He was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and was moved to an intensive care unit on January 2.
Further medical examination revealed abdominal fluid collections affecting the function of his small intestines. This issue was addressed by placing a tube through his nose to drain his stomach, and non-surgical drain placement helped drain the abdominal fluid collections.
Doctors stated that Austin’s infection has cleared, and he continues to make progress in his recovery. Despite the slow recovery process, they anticipate a full recovery. Notably, during his hospitalization, Austin never lost consciousness and did not undergo general anesthesia.
On Monday, the White House announced that Austin will retain his position as Defense Secretary, despite the controversy surrounding the delayed disclosure of his hospitalization.
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