What kind of surgery did Pope Francis have, and why?

LONDON — Pope Francis emerged from a three-hour abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital on Wednesday evening, with no known complications, the Vatican said. Authorities said Francis was alert and responsive and that he had “responded well.” Doctors not linked to the pope’s care said hernias were a known risk after previous operations and typically only become problematic when patients develop a bulge in their abdomen and experience significant pain. Dr. Walter Longo, chief of colon and rectal surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, said leaving the pope’s hernia untreated could lead to severe bowel problems. “But if he gets through the operation and does fine, he should be OK.” Dr. Robin Phillips, an emeritus professor of colorectal surgery at Imperial College London, said abdominal surgery can also compromise lung function. The Vatican said the pope would remain at the hospital for “several days.” Dr. P. Ravi Kiran, chief of colorectal surgery at Columbia University, said it would take a few days for Francis’ bowels to start working again and for him to recover from the effects of anesthesia.