WASHINGTON — Former President Jimmy Carter underwent surgery on Tuesday to relieve pressure from bleeding in his head and his office reported that he was recovering at an Atlanta hospital, where he will remain for the foreseeable future.
“There are no complications from the surgery,” his spokeswoman, Deanna Congileo, said in a statement. “President Carter will remain in the hospital as long as advisable for observation. We do not anticipate any further statements until he is released from the hospital.”
Mr. Carter, 95, the longest-living president in American history, was taken to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Monday evening with a subdural hematoma brought on by a series of recent falls. His office provided no further details about what led him to seek help or about the surgery itself.
A subdural hematoma is an accumulation of blood outside the brain, usually a result of head injuries and is sometimes life threatening if not treated. Mr. Carter has fallen at least three times in the past six months, including once in May when he broke a hip and twice last month when he required 14 stitches and broke his pelvis. Each time he has bounced back, even showing up for a Habitat for Humanity homebuilding project shortly after one fall.
Ms. Congileo said Mr. Carter’s office would issue no more updates about his condition until he leaves the hospital. “President and Mrs. Carter thank everyone for the many well wishes they have received,” she said.