Dr. Spencer Amory

Pataki, is being treated by Kittitian-born surgeon at New York Presbyterian

Hospital, Dr. Spencer Eugene Amory.

Pataki was initially brought to Hudson Valley Hospital Center two weeks ago

for the appendix problem. Later while recovering, he developed an

obstruction in his intestines and was transferred to New York Presbyterian,

where the 60-year-old governor is currently being treated.

Doctors say the New York Governor would make a full recovery and return to

work soon.

"We can't speculate exactly how long his stay will be, but we can see

definite signs of improvement," the New York Post quotes Dr. Amory, one of

Pataki's surgeons at Columbia as saying.  The Post also quoted Dr. Amory as

saying that Pataki arrived "with an infection."

Separately, The New York Times reported Pataki's original condition had left

him more seriously ill than previously disclosed. Doctors at New York

Presbyterian said he had suffered peritonitis and abdominal abscesses, both

potentially life-threatening conditions, and fever.

Gov. George Pataki is suffering from an infection, and his stay at a

Manhattan hospital will continue until it has cleared up and he can eat

normally, his doctors said Tuesday.

"We cannot speculate exactly how long his stay will be, but we see definite

signs of improvement, and we will make that decision when it is

appropriate," said Dr. Amory, who added that Pataki still suffers

intermittent fevers and can tolerate only small amounts of "soft food." He

is still receiving intravenous nutrition and antibiotics.

"I expect the Governor to return to complete normalcy - his excellent,

previous health," Amory said.

Pataki has been hospitalised since the early morning hours of Feb. 16, when

he arrived at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt, complaining of

abdominal pain. He then underwent surgery to remove a burst appendix.

Although he was initially expected to go home a few days later, his release

was delayed because his intestines did not resume normal functions. On

February 21, he was transferred to Columbia and within hours of his arrival

underwent laparoscopic surgery for a blockage in his digestive system.

Yesterday, Amory, the Columbia surgeon, said that "by definition" a burst

appendix means the spread of infection in the abdomen.

"The governor presented to the hospital with signs of infection, including a

fever, and he's had fevers intermittently since he presented to (Columbia),"

Amory said. "He had a rupture of an appendix, which is a serious condition."

Still, Amory said he reviewed Pataki's care at Hudson Valley in "great

detail" and called it excellent.

Amory and the other doctors at Columbia said they would not release Pataki

before his fevers subsided and they felt confident his infection had cleared

and his digestive processes had returned to normal. They added, however,

that the governor's condition was a normal consequence of a burst appendix.

The Kittitian-born surgeon, a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Columbia

University College of Physicians and Surgeons was the Guest Lecturer at the

Sixth Annual Prime Minister's Independence Lecture last year.