Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has prostate cancer and his recent secretive hospitalization was for surgery and later to treat a urinary tract infection related to that operation, doctors said.
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00:00 On December 22, 2023, after consultation with his medical team, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
00:07 and underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a prostatectomy to treat and cure prostate cancer.
00:15 He was under general anesthesia during this procedure.
00:19 Secretary Austin recovered uneventfully from his surgery and returned home the next morning.
00:25 His prostate cancer was detected early and his prognosis is excellent.
00:29 On January 1, 2024, Secretary Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
00:36 with complications from the December 22 procedure, including nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain.
00:45 Initial evaluation revealed a urinary tract infection.
00:49 On January 2, the decision was made to transfer him to the ICU for close monitoring and a higher level of care.
00:57 Further evaluation revealed abdominal fluid collections impairing the function of his small intestines.
01:04 This resulted in the backup of his intestinal contents, which was treated by placing a tube through his nose to drain his stomach.
01:11 The abdominal fluid collections were drained by non-surgical drain placement.
01:18 He's progressed steadily throughout his stay. His infection is cleared.
01:22 He continues to make progress and we anticipate a full recovery, although this can be a slow process.
01:28 During the stay, Secretary Austin never lost consciousness and never underwent general anesthesia.
01:35 The department recognizes the understandable concerns expressed by the public, Congress, and the news media
01:41 in terms of notification timelines and DoD transparency.
01:44 And I want to underscore again that Secretary Austin has taken responsibility for the issues with transparency
01:51 and the department is taking immediate steps to improve our notification procedures.
01:56 Yesterday, the Secretary's Chief of Staff directed the DoD's Director of Administration and Management
02:02 to conduct a 30-day review of the department's notification process for assumption of functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense.
02:10 While the review is underway and effective immediately, the Chief of Staff also directed several actions
02:16 to ensure increased situational awareness about any transfer of authorities from the Secretary of Defense
02:23 to include ensuring that the DoD General Counsel, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
02:28 the Combatant Commanders, the Service Secretaries, the Service Chief of Staffs, the White House Situation Room,
02:35 and senior staff of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense are all notified,
02:39 and that the notification for transfer of authorities includes an explanation of the reason.