ENTERTAINER Leslie Crowther was fighting for his life last night after
a second emergency brain operation cleared a blood clot the size of a
small apple.
He was in a ''critically serious'' condition.
Neuro-surgeon David Sandeman said after the three-hour operation: ''In
this sort of situation, which is dreadfully serious, there is a real
risk of him not coming through.''
He suffered severe head injuries in a weekend car crash and remains on
a life support system in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.
Mr Crowther's wife, Jean, and family were last night maintaining their
bedside vigil. Mrs Crowther, her five children and their spouses were
taking it in turns to sit at his bedside.
Mr Sandeman, who carried out both operations on the 59-year-old
entertainer, said it was a crucial period as Mr Crowther's condition was
complicated by a heart problem.
The surgeon said he and his team removed a blood clot the size of a
small apple from the left frontal lobe of the brain, using the same
skull opening made to remove an even larger clot on the surface of the
brain on Saturday night.
The team decided to operate again after a morning review of Mr
Crowther's condition caused concern, and a second brain scan showed the
clot within the brain tissue.
He said both clots were probably caused by the accident on the M5 near
Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon when Mr Crowther's Rolls-Royce careered
from the road before overturning on an embankment.
Mr Crowther was alone in the car and the cause of the crash has yet to
be established.
Mr Crowther was transferred from Cheltenham General Hospital to
Frenchay on Sunday after his condition deteriorated. Mr Sandeman said he
was at ''death's door'' on arrival at the Bristol hospital which
specialises in brain injury victims.
Surgery was complicated because Mr Crowther was taking anti-coagulants
for a condition involving a faulty heart valve.
Mr Sandeman said it was necessary to reverse the blood thinning effect
for the operation but that, in turn, increased the threat to the heart,
a risk which remained after yesterday's surgery along with a problem
concerning the heart's rhythm.
The surgeon said statistically the comedian had a chance of less than
50-50 but many patients had recovered from similar operations.
Mr Sandeman said he had briefed the family on Mr Crowther's progress
and potential for recovery.
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