Page "Johannes Rau" Paragraph 20

Since 1995 Rau was aware of his dangerous aneurysm in the abdominal aorta, but declined an operation out of respect for his office and the upcoming election as president.

On 23 July 2000 the operation took place at the University Hospital of Essen.

On 18 August 2004, he had to undergo serious heart surgery, in which an artificial heart valve was inserted.

Only two months later ( 19 October 2004 ) a hematoma in the abdominal cavity was surgically removed.