This seems like it might be the case for Fidel Castro. As you know, Fidel has thus far undergone three unsuccessful surgeries in an attempt to correct complications from diverticulitis. The news has widely reported his condition; less well reported are the medical details of what, exactly, suffering from.

Sometimes a small pouch can form in the colon and bulge outward through weak spots. A single pouch is called a diverticulum. The condition of having these pouches is called diverticulosis. Ten percent of Americans over the age of forty have some degree of diverticulosis. It becomes more common in older folks -- in fact, half of all people over the age of sixty-five have diverticulosis.

When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is then referred to as diverticulitis. This can lead to bleeding, infections, perforations or tears, or blockages. These complications always require treatment to prevent them from progressing and causing more serious problems.

Sometimes the infection can be treated with antibiotics. More serious infections, however, must be dealt with surgically, which was the case with Fidel. He had an abscess which required removal of a large piece of the large intestine. Usually when this happens a healthy section of the bowel is at least temporarily redirected to an opening in the abdomen called a stoma, which means that feces doesn't exit the rectum but instead is collected in a bag. Later on, when the infection has been treated and the patient is in a more stable condition, a second surgery is performed to reverse the first procedure. The intestine is then reattached to the rectum and the function of excretion is returned to normal.

Reports are conflicted and contradictory, but from what I can tell, a resection of the bowel was attempted in order to avoid rerouting Fidel's pipes. (According to the AP, Fidel ordered the resection himself to avoid a colostomy bag.) However, the infection spread to the peritoneum and other surrounding tissue, which required another surgery to drain an infected area and an attempt at a colostomy anyway -- which wasn't too successful, because Castro "did not heal well."

It is reported that in a third surgery, a Korean-made prosthesis was implanted. The prosthesis is believed to be an artificial stretch of bowel. Medical experts have voiced their opinions on this as being highly experimental at best.

The most recent reports indicate that Castro is being fed intravenously and is in grave condition. His prognosis is bleak. Which makes me remember something I heard Andy Griffith say years ago: "Some people never die. They just nasty away."