Former president Lee Teng-hui (
Lee checked into the hospital on Sunday and will remain there as he recovers.
Hospital officials said that Lee, after having undergone catheterization heart surgery two years ago in Japan, was scheduled for a follow-up evaluation.
"Taipei Veterans General Hospital director, Lee Liang-hsiung (李良雄), together with doctors from relevant fields, decided that the results of Lee's test called for cardiac surgery," said a statement issued by the hospital yesterday.
Japanese doctor Kazuaki Mitsudo (光藤和明), the doctor who performed Lee's previous operation, traveled to Taiwan to assist doctors with the Taipei Veterans General Hospital during the surgery.
This is the second catheterization heart surgery Lee has had within the past two years.
The doctors said the operation was successful and that Lee's is in stable condition.
"Lee had already planned to stay at the hospital. It was not unexpected," said TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (
"He had heart surgery two years ago. Since then, he has had regular check-ups. Recent tests revealed a change and prompted today's surgery," Chen said.
He commented that the president was doing well and expected that Lee would need a few days to recover.
TSU Deputy Secretary-General Chen Hung-chi (陳鴻基) also said that despite speculation about an emergency operation, Lee's recent stay at the hospital was a visit that had actually been arranged after testing revealed the abnormality.
Before checking into the hospital, Lee made an appearance to support an upcoming rally to change the country's official name from the Republic of China to Taiwan.
RSS