Brazil President Undergoes 2nd Operation; Concern Mounting

Doctors performed another operation on President-elect Tancredo Neves today because “his clinical condition did not change” after emergency abdominal surgery six days earlier, the government said.

Press spokesman Antonio Britto said the medical team treating the 75-year-old Neves made the decision “after new complementary examinations.”

Neves was rushed to the hospital last Friday and underwent surgery for the intestinal ailment diverticulitis hours before he was to be inaugurated as Brazil’s first civilian president in more than two decades. The vice president, who was inaugurated, is acting president until Neves recovers.

Nine specialists were called in Tuesday to aid the team of three doctors that monitored Neves’ progress. The presence of the new crew fueled speculation that the situation was more serious than the medical bulletins indicated.

Rumors had circulated about the possibility of a second operation, but on Tuesday Britto said Neves suffered “alterations in intestinal movements” that he termed “not infrequent following intestinal surgery.” He gave no further explanation.

Vice President Jose Sarney, 54, met today with the Cabinet that Neves named days before he fell ill.