Rep. Steve Scalise readmitted to ICU in serious condition due to 'concerns for infection'

[Julian Englis]

Source: ABC News

Rep. Steve Scalise, who was shot in the hip June 14 when a gunman opened fire at a baseball practice of Republican lawmakers in Virginia, has been readmitted to the intensive care unit in serious condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the hospital announced Wednesday night.

"Congressman Steve Scalise has been readmitted to the Intensive Care Unit at MedStar Washington Hospital Center due to new concerns for infection," MedStar said in a statement. "His condition is listed as serious. We will provide another update tomorrow, July 6."

Scalise, the No. 3 House GOP leader, was upgraded to fair condition and moved out of ICU in late June, the hospital said at the time, adding that he was "beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation."

Scalise was one of five people wounded in the shooting. The gunman was killed.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-steve-scalise-ICU-fellow-gop-congressman/story?id=48462519

[Gore1FL]

1. Lucky for him he has health insurance. nt

[Hieronymus]

3. Yea

[VermontKevin]

2. I hope he recovers. nt

[Archae]

4. Two reasons I hope he pulls through this...

1. He doesn't deserve to have died at the hands of a nutcase like the shooter, and his family need their husband/father/son/etc.

2. If he dies, the right-wing and far-right will go apeshit crazy.
"Dem lib'ruls kilt him!"

[TygrBright]

5. uh-oh... hope it's not sepsis. n/t

[longship]

7. With that extent of trauma, what else could it be?

Almost any infection under those conditions would almost have to be systemic, like sepsis. And you are likely correct. That's as close as one comes to a death sentence.

I sincerely hope that Rep. Scalise pulls through.

Nobody needs this. Nobody!!!

[LovingA2andMI]

8. Sounds Like Sepsis...

If It's Not Under Control without 24-48 hours -- the results will not end well.

[Blue_Roses]

13. Close call

for me over a year ago with being sepsis after getting bacterial pneumonia. I've never been so sick in my life. Stayed in the hospital for three weeks. When I look back at the seriousness of sepsis, it makes me so thankful it was caught when it was. I could have died and almost lost my foot due to osteomyletis.

And all this because our apartment flooded and no one came to dry out the carpet--even after calls to the office and maintenance man walking on the wet carpet the day after it flooded.

[LovingA2andMI]

24. First....Glad you recovered...

As that is what is most important.

[Blue_Roses]

31. Thank-you

My mother was a nurse and I still had no idea how deadly this can be. I literally felt like I was dying.

[Chemisse]

17. Particularly if it's caused by hospital-acquired antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Hopefully that is not the case.

[FlaGranny]

25. I'm guessing it was caused

by the type injury he suffered. His intestine was probably compromised and dumped stool into his abdomen, very serious with a very high infection rate.

[Chemisse]

30. Oh, of course. That is far more likely.

But also hard to treat, I believe.

[DesertRat]

6. This is a reminder of the long, painful ordeal faced by survivors of gunshots

I hope he recovers fully.

[Rural_Progressive]

9. Pelvic injuries suck

Old time paramedic from the days before shoulder harnesses and mandatory seat belt laws. Saw a lot of these as a first responder, nasty pieces of work with blunt trauma, really hated what this man is dealing with when we would respond to gun shot wounds. Wouldn't wish what he's going through on anyone. As another poster accurately stated the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical since he's dealing with an infection.

I hope he makes a full recovery in a timely manner.

[Chemisse]

18. It was surprising to this layperson, and probably most others.

When he was first shot, it seemed from the location of the wound that he would be okay. Within a day or two, we were educated on how very serious a bullet through the pelvis actually is!

And now an infection in this area; if it was a limb, amputation would be an option. But now he is likely in a life or death struggle.

[atreides1]

20. Remember

The bullet fragmented...and the doctors said they weren't able to get all of the fragments out!

It makes me wonder now if the shooter did something to the rounds he used?

[Rural_Progressive]

22. I am not an authority on firearms nor have I played on on TV

that said, news report say he was shot by a SKS rifle firing 7.62 x 39 ammunition. This stuff is horrible because instead of going through leaving an entrance and exit wound it "tumbles" when it enters a body particularly if it strikes a bone. Considering how much bone is in the pelvis this man suffered a horrific injury as a result of the round bouncing around within the pelvic area and the kinetic energy converting to a shock wave doing extensive damage to tissue and blood vessels.

No need to modify the ammunition, it is designed to produce a horrible wound and striking bone probably caused the fragmentation. This man's body has been damaged extensively and if he survives, based on the experiences of other survivors of this type of shooting, he may face a lifetime of chronic pain and repeated surgeries to repair the damage done.

As I said, I am no expert but do have some familiarity with weapons and the damage they create. I sincerely hope the representative is able to make a full recovery from this terrible injury but I fear, at best, he has a long and challenging road ahead of him.

[atreides1]

27. I learned that in the army!

We'll never know what the shooter may or may not have done! We don't know which type of ammunition, FMJ, SP, or HP, he used!

All three have different characteristics, with hollow points being the worst of the three!

[Skittles]

10. wishing the best for Steve Scalise

mass shootings are horrific

[Hekate]

11. I hope he recovers. This is awful.

[Ken Burch]

12. Best wishes for his full recovery.

He didn't deserve to be shot.

It would be nice if the importance of affordable healthcare access sunk in with him after this.

[Blue_Roses]

14. Hopefully they caught this infection in time

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

[GeoWilliam750]

15. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery

[riversedge]

16. I wish him and his family well.

[Bengus81]

19. Hope for a recovery but at least his family won't have a health care anquish like others....

Maybe he'll get back to 100% and then speak on how that was a worry HIS family didn't have to endure. Eh....nah,never happen.

[Dave Starsky]

29. These people almost never learn.

He'll be just as big an asshole when he pulls through this as he was before. Maybe even worse.

That having been said, I hope he does pull through. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[Sunlei]

21. Very serious, hope they can get rid of the infection before it does to much damage. Get well Steve S

[Adrahil]

23. Thank goodness there are out of pocket maximums!

ICU is EXPENSIVE.

Seriously though, I wish him a speedy recovery.

[hamsterjill]

26. I wish him a full recovery and I'm sorry to hear of this setback.

I truly wish him well. I'm also hoping for an epiphany of sorts regarding guns beyond his recovery. Being shot has a tendency to do that to a person.

[Gothmog]

28. I will be praying for a full and complete recovery