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Michael Schumacher latest: Doctors say new brain scan shows 'slight improvement' in condition of F1 legend, who is 'relatively stable'
DOCTORS say there has been a "slight improvement" in the condition of Michael Schumacher, who is now "relatively stable" after another brain scan and a surgical intervention.
It is the first update on the seven-time Formula 1 legend's status since Monday following the skiing accident in which Schumacher's head struck a rock during a high-speed off-piste ski run in the French Alps.
That caused massive head trauma and required the 44-year-old German to be put into a medically induced coma.
"A new scan was carried out this morning and it shows slight improvement." said Marc Penaud, assistant director general of Grenoble Hospital, situated in the south east of France.
Another doctor said: "We were able to carry out a scan without any unnecessary risk - and it showed a few signs that he is relatively stable.
"We have a few signs to feel that the situation is better controlled than it was yesterday."
The doctors said Schumacher underwent a two-hour "surgical intervention" to "reduce pressure on the brain"
"It was a difficult decision to make, but we decided to eliminate a hematoma. The level of inter-cranial pressure has improved," said the surgeon, however adding: "Scans show that there are other lesions in the brain and we need to check on these every hour."
Dr. Jean-Francois Payen, head of the intensive care unit, said it is too soon to say that Schumacher is out of danger and that the coming hours will be critical.
"The situation is better controlled than it was yesterday," he said. "We are unable to say he's out of danger, however we have gained a bit of time with regard to developments.
IN PICTURES: SCHUMACHER'S LEGENDARY CAREER
"The surgical intervention allowed us to control the situation and this morning it is slightly better than yesterday. In intensive care, things can go well and bad very quickly. We're gaining a bit of time," Payen said.
Schumacher will remain in a coma, Payen said, and the star's family - wife Corinna, daughter Gina-Maria and Mick, with whom he was skiing at the time of the accident - are still by his bedside and were consulted about the operation.
"We're still concerned and we're still worried," Payen said. "We can't tell ourselves we've won.
"The situation is slightly better over the last 24 hours, but we must be realistic - we still have some other treatments that have to remain."
Payen refused to be drawn on Schumacher's future - "No forecasts for the moment" - but said the former driver won't be flown to Germany as the current medical team have a strategy in place.
Schumacher, who is due to turn 45 on Friday, was put into a coma to limit the impact of the head injuries.
The coma reduces the patient's temperature to around 35 degrees to reduce swelling. By being unconscious, the brain is also switched off to sounds, light and other triggers that cause the organ to use up oxygen as it processes the stimuli.
Professor Stephen Chabardes, the neurosurgeon who performed emergency surgery on Monday, said yesterday that Schumacher arrived in hospital in an agitated state - his arms and legs jerking uncontrollably - and was not able to answer questions.
His condition "rapidly deteriorated'' and he fell into a coma.
Chabardes said brain scans had shown intercranial haematoma (internal bleeding), cerebral contusions (brain tissue bruising) and oedema (fluid build up).
"We operated urgently to try to eliminate the haematoma and after the operation we saw that we had been able to eliminate these haematoma but also sadly the appearance of various bilateral lesions," he said.
News of the accident stunned the Formula 1 community and racing stars joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and legions of fans in expressing their hopes for his recovery.
Chancellor Merkel said she was shocked "along with millions of Germans" by the accident.
"We listened to the doctors earlier as they described the situation as extraordinarily serious," her spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
"We hope, along with Michael Schumacher and his family, that his injuries will heal and he will recover.
"We wish his wife, his children and the rest of his family strength and mutual support."
Former F1 driver Damon Hill, who fought several memorable on-track battles with Schumacher, said he was "praying'' for his former rival.
Quadruple F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, 26, who has said Schumacher was his childhood idol, said: "I am shocked and I hope that he'll be feeling better as soon as possible.
Michael Viehmann, president of a Schumacher fan club in the small German town of Kerpen where the retired racer grew up, said fans were "very upset''.
"We know him really well. He's a fighter, we're crossing fingers that he will win this battle,'' he said.
Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker backed Schumacher to use his famous fighting spirit to pull through for a special tribute in his honour at next year's Melbourne's race.
Mr Walker revealed he had contacted Schumacher three weeks ago to invite him to Victoria for a lap of honour at the Albert Park circuit where he is a four-time winner.
Mr Walker said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had flown to the French Alps to be by Schumacher's side and the seven-time world champion would be treated by the world's best doctors as he fights for life.
"I don't think he will go and in fact we asked him to come to Melbourne only three weeks ago to do a tour of honour," Mr Walker said.
"He will be here, don't worry ... the man we're talking about is a very special individual.''
Ferrari, which Schumacher raced for, expressed its concern in a statement.
"Everyone at Ferrari has been in a state of anxiety since hearing about Michael Schumacher's accident," it said, adding that company president, Luca di Montezemolo, and race team leader, Stefano Domenicali, were in contact with the family.
British former world racing champion Jenson Button said his "thoughts are with Michael Schumacher at this tough time. ... Michael more than anyone has the strength to pull through this."
FANS, RIVALS SHOW SUPPORT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Outside the hospital, fans have gathered, including some who had made the drive from Germany - more than four hours away - to be close to their hero.
There are also more than a dozen live broadcast TV vans parked in front of the hospital broadcasting the latest news of his condition around the world.
"We would like to thank the medical team who we know do everything possible to help Michael," Schumacher's family, including wife Carinna, said in a prepared written statement.
"We like to also thank the people from all around the world who have expressed their sympathy and sent their best wishes for Michael's recovery."
Schumacher's 16-year-old daughter Gina-Marie as well as son Mick also remained at the hospital overnight.
They are being comforted by family friend and leading French neurologist Gerard Saillant who flew into Grenoble yesterday.
The German was skiing with his 14-year-old son Mick off-piste when shortly after 11am Sunday local time when he fell and struck his head.
Doctors said the helmet he was wearing had given him a fighting chance but his head still suffered a very violent shock.
Witnesses, who called emergency services, confirmed he had been wearing a helmet but had been knocked unconscious and they saw blood coming out from under his damaged helmet and marking the snow about him.
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