Silvio Berlusconi is to undergo heart surgery to replace a defective aortic valve.
The former Italian Prime Minister “arrived at the hospital in a severe state” according to Dr Zangrillo.
“He risked his life, he risked dying and he knew it… We have identified in an exact and certain way a pathology of aortic valve that is called aortic insufficiency. There’s only one way to correct it, which is the substitution of the aortic valve.” the doctor said.
“At the beginning he didn’t want to believe it. For a man who wants to live to be 130, this is a very unpleasant jolt.” he added
The wealthy politician was taken into hospital for tests in his home city, Milan, earlier this week. A spokeswoman for the party said at the time his condition was not life-threatening.