The surgery that ex president Néstor Kirchner underwent ended shortly after 9 p.m. and, according to a press release from Doctor Marcelo Ballesteros, the national lawmaker "is still in intensive care."

Several ministers and national politicians were present at the hospital. Also, Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said that that the operation had been successful and that "everything is fine, the news is good."

Néstor Kirchner was taken to the hospital after a medical issue related to a complications with an artery. He was taken to the Los Arcos hospital to be examined and underwent surgery.

The ex Argentine president had a complication in his cartoid artery, or one of the two main arteries in the neck that carries blood from the heart to the head.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner arrived at the hospital in Palermo.

In addition, Buenos Aires Archbishop Cardenal Jorge Bergoglio sent a Buenos Aires City priest to the Los Arcos hospital, where ex president Néstor Kirchner is being held after suffering complications in his right carotid artery.

The priest arrived at the medical center after Bergoglio showed concern for the health of the national lawmaker and ex president.

According to a religious organization, the priest sent was Juan Torrella, who bestowed upon Néstor Kirchner the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Néstor Kirchner has had some health complications in the past, especially during his presidency, but he had never had heart complications and his health issues were limited to gastric problems, which did lead him to be hospitalized in 2004.

Kirchner was hospitalized in April 2004 for six says at the Río Gallegos Regional Hospital after having felt ill at his home in El Calafate.

Official sources said that the hospitalization was due to a gastric complication that included acute stomach erosion and hemorrhages, and he was given an anti-inflammatory medicine for treatment.

After that episode, the current national lawmaker had other medical issues as well. For example, in November 2005, he was forced to suspend a visit to Tucumán after Doctor Luis Buonomo advised him to rest due to another gastric complication.

Despite these complications, Kirchner said in January 2006 that he "enjoyed" a healthy lifestyle.

• Carotid artery complications obstruct blood flow to brain