Senator Johnson out of surgery but critical

"Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson lay in critical condition Thursday after undergoing emergency overnight surgery to repair bleeding inside his brain, raising questions over whether his illness could cost Democrats their newly won control of the Senate.

The South Dakota lawmaker, 59, was "recovering without complication," the U.S. Capitol physician said. Johnson suffered from a hemorrhage in his brain caused by a rare and sometimes fatal condition. Specialists said it could take days to wake up after such surgery.

Johnson was stricken as Democrats prepared to take fragile 51-49 control of the new Senate when it convenes in three weeks. Democrats seized control of both chambers of Congress from Republicans in November midterm elections."

Update from the AP:
"The South Dakota lawmaker, 59, was on "an uncomplicated postoperative course," the U.S. Capitol physician said after visiting him Thursday afternoon. Johnson suffered a hemorrhage in his brain caused by a rare and sometimes fatal condition.
[snip]
"He has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required," said the physician, Adm. John Eisold. He had said earlier, "The senator is recovering without complication."

Johnson was responding to the voice of his wife, Barbara, and following directions after the surgery, the senator's office said in a statement. "He was reaching for and holding her hand."
[snip]

"Johnson's condition, also known as AVM, or arteriovenous malformation, causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large, become tangled and sometimes burst. The condition is often present from birth."
[snip]
"Arteriovenous malformation is believed to affect about 300,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The institute's Web site said only about 12 percent of those have any symptoms. The symptoms, which range in severity, can include severe headaches, memory loss and dizziness.

It's common to take several days for someone to wake up after AVM surgery, said Dr. Sean Grady, neurosurgery chairman at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Someone who is awake and alert and talking in the first day or two typically has a shorter recovery - in the range of 4 to 8 weeks, he said. If it takes longer to wake up, it in turn takes more months to recover.

"We wouldn't make any immediate long-term prognoses for at least one to two days," he cautioned. "There can be a period of time where the brain is still swollen and the patient may have trouble responding."

The senator's wife, Barbara Johnson, said the family "is encouraged and optimistic.""