Hospitalised former president FW de Klerk had a ”peaceful” night after a tracheotomy was successfully performed, Panorama Medi-Clinic said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Melissa Rademan said De Klerk was in a stable condition in an intensive-care unit at the hospital.
”Doctors are satisfied with his progress and treatment is being continued,” Rademan said.
De Klerk has suffered two setbacks following surgery to remove a malignant colon tumour.
On Tuesday, his spokesperson Dave Steward said De Klerk had developed a ”slight infection” in his lungs during the past 24 hours.
”They [doctors] are obviously worried about any infection and are looking for the cause and treating it with appropriate antibiotics,” Steward said.
A tracheotomy involves a temporary or permanent surgical incision into the trachea, usually as a result of blocked upper air passages. — Sapa