Dolphy taken off dialysis because of complications –Eric Quizon

(8:30 p.m.) Doctors have decided to stop administering dialysis on ailing Comedy King Dolphy, his son Eric Quizon said in a press conference at Makati Medical Center Friday evening.   The decision was made at around 10 or 11 Friday morning, after the actor-comedian’s heart rate went up and his blood pressure went down, Quizon noted.   “However, he’s been regulated. His heart rate is still fluctuating, but his blood pressure has been regulated,” he said. Dolphy’s creatinine levels–which indicate deficiencies in kidney function–are still higher than the normal range, but already went down slightly, according to his son.   “Two days ago, it was at a 2-point range, but now it’s down to 1.58. The normal range is still 0.7-1.2, somewhere there… So, that’s one good news,” he said.   Quizon also noted that his father’s hemoglobin is up, but his platelet count decreased from 77,000 Wednesday to 46,000 Friday, making him prone to hemorrhaging.   Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body, while platelets prevent external and internal bleeding.   Dolphy has also been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, Quizon said.   “They found that he has pneumonia again, on both sides of his lungs. They’re now administering antibiotics again… So, ‘yun ‘yung problema because during the dialysis it helped removed the excess fluid in the lungs, so probably napagod,” Quizon said.   Because of the pneumonia, the family has to regulate contact with their father.   “At least nadetect naman ng maaga, so hopefully he survives it again. This is the 11th pneumonia in 11 months,” he noted.   Despite the new problems in his condition, Dolphy remains responsive, Quizon said, noting his father responds when members of the family call out to him.   “He’s responsive. Not as responsive as yesterday, but ang alam ko kanina si Zsa Zsa was there, sinabihan siya ng ‘lovey, lovey,’ nag-respond siya kay Zsa Zsa. Maski kanina din, when they were checking on him–‘Daddy, Daddy.’ So, nagrespond siya,” Quizon shared.   Doctors continue to monitor Dolphy’s condition to see if they can start dialysis again.   “Originally, they wanted a three-day dialysis, eh. So, they stopped today, bali naka-isang araw lang siya. And then maybe tomorrow they’ll see kung pwede magperform ng dialysis ulit,” Quizon said.   Dolphy started dialysis Thursday afternoon, to support his kidneys and other organs.   The treatment somewhat improved the comedy king’s condition, even allowing him to open his eyes for the first time in several days. —VS, GMA News