First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's condition continues to improve after the 48-hour critical period since his major heart surgery passed uneventfully yesterday morning and he has a 75 to 80 percent chance of recovering, his doctors said.

The medical team that performed the operation on the First Gentleman last Monday night, led by cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Rommel Carino and main attending physician Dr. Juliet Cervantes, bared this in a medical briefing at the St. Luke's Hospital, a Malacanang press statement said.

Cervantes said the first gentleman underwent dialysis yesterday to remove excess fluid on his kidneys and lungs. According to her, all of the patient's vital organs are now okay although they are still monitoring the functions of his lungs and kidneys.

Cervantes said the President's husband is currently on a respirator which, barring any problem, could be removed within a day of two.

"We have passed the 48 critical-hour period. However, we are still on guard for any possible problem," Cervantes said. On the other hand, Carino said they don't see any complication arising from the surgery.

Carino gave the First Gentleman a 75 to 80 percent chance of recovering, significantly up from the 50-50 chance of survival given by doctors on Wednesday.

Carino said they are just waiting for the normalization of the function of his lungs and kidneys before they can confidently say that he is on the road to full recovery.

"The First Gentleman will be contained in the recovery room for intensive care management and monitoring," Carino said.

President Gloria Arroyo said yesterday she may cancel her official visit to China following her husband's heart surgery.

Arroyo told reporters she was reviewing whether to go ahead with the visit, but gave no further details.

"I'm still consulting with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs)," she said when asked if she was planning to cancel her trip, scheduled from April 20-25.

Cabinet members have said the president's trip to China would depend on her husband's recovery.

Arroyo briefly left the hospital yesterday where her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, 60, is confined for a meeting at the presidential palace, but returned a few hours later to stay at his bedside.

This was the first time the 60-year-old leader had left the hospital since her husband underwent a 10-hour emergency heart operation to repair a leak in the main artery and a triple-bypass of another artery.

Reporters who saw her leave through a side entrance said the president appeared tired.

Since her husband was admitted on Monday night, Arroyo has been working from a makeshift office set up in the hospital.*AFP/OPS

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