Mintoff again in hospital, this time with heart failure

Former Prime Minister and Labour leader Dom Mintoff was re-admitted to Mater Dei Hospital at midnight on Monday suffering from heart failure and dehydration.

Although his condition improved since admission, he remained critical but stable, receiving treatment in the Critical Coronary Care Unit, the government said.

A Labour Party spokesman said Mr Mintoff’s dehydration improved significantly yesterday but other medical conditions required critical care.

His diagnosed condition, heart failure, occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body. As the pumping action is lost, blood may back up in other areas of the body, causing fluid to build up in the lungs, the liver, the gastrointestinal tract and the arms and legs.

The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease where small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart are narrowed. Mr Mintoff was surrounded by his relatives, the spokesman said. The medical team caring for Mr Mintoff advised for him to remain under close observation and monitoring. They also emphasised his need for rest.

This is the second acute admission for the 94-year-old in less than two months. He was admitted on September 16 in a confused state after suffering a light stroke. He was also treated for suspected pneumonia.

He had been treated in the Intensive Therapy Unit before being gradually moved to a medical ward to be discharged some two weeks later.

Mr Mintoff served as Prime Minister twice between 1955 and 1958 (when Malta was still a British colony) and again, post-Independence, from 1971 to 1984. He was an MP for over half a century until 1998 when he had controversially contributed to former Prime Minister Alfred Sant’s downfall.