The operation that ex president Néstor Kirchner underwent comes after other ex presidents' similar experiences, such as that of Carlos Menem and Fernando De la Rúa, who were in office when they had surgery.

On October 14, 1993, Carlos Menem underwent a successful surgery after having his right carotid artery cleaned. The artery, which transports blood to the brain, had been partially obstructed.

The current Rioja Province Senator had to be taken to the hospital and then cancel a visit to Chile.

Menem had felt a prickly feeling in his left arm while he played golf and, after a dizzy spell, went to the hospital.

One the initial tests were conducted, doctors found that the right carotid artery was obstructed.

At the time, Doctor Alejandro Tfeli, who was the ex president's personal doctor, said that the surgery lasted some three hours at the Buenos Aires Cardiovascular Institute (ICBA).

Menem spoke to the press the following day and said that he was in a good state of health.

In addition, De la Rúa also went through the same situation on June 8, 2001 when he was also checked into the ICBA Cardiovascular Institute for a medical check-up and ended up undergoing an angioplasty to clear up an artery.