Surgeon says DP leader suffered 0.55 inches stab wound to neck muscle

“The artery inside the muscle was cut through the muscle, and there was a significant amount of blood clotting,” says Seoul National University Hospital surgeon Min Seung-kee.

Min Seung-kee, the Seoul National University Hospital surgeon who operated on Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung after his knife attack, briefs reporters on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The Seoul National University Hospital medical team that performed surgery on the Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, reported that he is recovering without setbacks.

Min Seung-kee, the surgeon who operated on Lee, told reporters during a press briefing Thursday that the DP leader suffered “a stab wound about 1.4 centimeters (0.55 inches) above the sternocleidomastoid muscle, also known as the neck muscle.”

He added that the artery inside the muscle was cut, and there was a significant amount of blood clotting.

However, the surgeon said there was no damage to the brachial artery, surrounding nerves, esophagus or airway.

“We performed sufficient irrigation to prevent secondary infections and vascular reconstruction surgery to make primary repairs to the punctured superficial brachial vein,” the surgeon said. “The stitches were about 9 millimeters long.”

Min said the medical team also removed all clots from the muscle, clipped the area, and sealed the wound after thorough cleansing. “The surgery lasted an hour and 40 minutes from 4:20 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 2,” said Min. “The anesthesia took two hours.”

The surgeon said reconstructive surgery on neck veins or arteries is highly demanding.

“Success was difficult to guarantee, even if the surgery was successful,” Min said. “Surgery by an experienced vascular surgeon was absolutely necessary.”

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]