MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cristina Fernandez in ‘good mood’; successful surgery, 30 to 45 days convalescence

Spokesman Scoccimarro makes the announcement to the media and jubilant supporters

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez ‘surgery has been satisfactory and is recovering favourably’ announced early Tuesday afternoon presidential spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro addressing the media and pro-government supporters outside the Fundación Favaloro clinic in Buenos Aires

Scoccimarro added the head of state is “in very good mood” and that “she thanked the medical team and all the people” who have expressed their solidarity with her. Further official information about the president’s health will be delivered on Wednesday at the same time, the official explained.

Hundreds of Kirchnerite activists staging a vigil since Tuesday's early morning outside the clinic, celebrated and burst into joy as Scoccimarro delivered the message

On Tuesday morning the Argentine president underwent surgery for a subdural haematoma which demanded minor cranium incisions to drain the blood accumulated. The clot had been detected last Saturday. Surgery lasted more than two hours. Apparently Cristina Fernandez suffered a blow in the head, on 12 August which caused the haematoma. It has not been officially informed how the cranium trauma was caused but the president suffers from lipothymy (low blood pressure), and a consequential accident is not discarded.

Before ending his brief report, an optimistic spokesman said Cristina Fernandez was accompanied by her family: “yes the children and her mother are next to her following her recovery from anaesthesia”.

The medical report delivered to the media said surgery was ‘without complications’ and the patient evolution is favourable. It also points out that previous to surgery “cardio-vascular risks were discarded through different complementary exams”. The patient remains in an intensive care unit.

In the next 48 hours the president can receive brief visits from direct relatives, and will remain in the intensive care unit. She will then have to spend another week in hospital and the convalescence period can last from 30 to 45 days.

Cristina Fernandez was first admitted to the Favaloro clinic with intense migraine and arrhythmia on Saturday and was submitted to cardiac and neurological tests. The subdural cranium haematoma was diagnosed.

From then on she was under intense monitoring for symptoms such as ‘speaking problems, loss of strength in arms or legs, tingling in extremities, convulsions or walking disability’ and if so a draining surgery was programmed, which was what happened.

In effect Cristina Fernandez on Sunday complained of ‘tingling in her left arm” and the surgery decision was taken for the following morning.

Although the official announcement and the medical report were handed out by Scoccimarro, it was actually Buenos Aires province governor Daniel Scioli who made the first announcement.

“The president is recovering from anaesthesia”, Scioli said during a ceremony in the San Martin borough. “We all wish her a quick recovery and in plenitude so that she can do what she most loves, which is work tirelessly”.