President Ezra Taft Benson underwent surgery Wednesday, Sept. 19, during which two subdural hematomas - collections of fluid or clots - were removed from his skull. He was listed in serious but stable condition Thursday, Sept. 20.

Dr. Bruce F. Sorensen, a neurosurgeon at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City who performed the surgery, reported in a news conference Wednesday afternoon he was "pleased that things went as well as they did." He said President Benson, for a man of 91, "is very strong."The surgeon reported that the prophet was resting comfortably after the 2 1/2-hour surgery. He anticipated President Benson would be hospitalized for about a week.

Asked if the Church leader might be expected to attend general conference on Oct. 6-7, the doctor replied, "I would think not."

During the news conference, Dr. Sorensen said he was asked to see President Benson Tuesday evening, Sept. 18, because the prophet had a decrease in his ability to swallow and because he had a severe headache for three or four days. Dr. Sorensen was called after President Benson was given a CT scan earlier Tuesday. After the test showed he had subdural hematomas on each side of his brain, he was admitted to LDS Hospital.

To illustrate the size of the affected area, Dr. Sorensen placed the palms of his hands on each side of his head. He said the clot on the left side of President Benson's brain was larger than the clot on the right side. The left clot, said the surgeon, had an acute component, meaning that it had occurred more recently.

"He did have chronic clots over both sides of the brain," said Dr. Sorensen. "They had been there for less than three months. We know that because he had a CT scan in June, which did not reveal any evidence of any clots.

"We were unable to determine if he had a fall. But according to all the people we have talked to, he has not had a fall or an injury. Why they [the clotsT occurred, we do not know.

"We were able to drain the clot on the right side by just a small hole about a centimeter in diameter [about the size of a person's index fingernail]. This clot came out quite easily.

"The clot on the other side, however, required a crainotomy, which requires moving a piece of bone. This clot was a solid clot, in addition to the liquid clot that would prolong the chronic nature of the problem."

Asked if President Benson's hematomas are similar to those President Spencer W. Kimball had, Dr. Sorensen said they were. He added they were also similar to hematomas U.S. President Ronald Reagan had a year ago. Such hematomas, said the surgeon, "are not uncommon" in older people.

He indicated surgeries for hematomas are performed at LDS Hosptial two to six times a month.

Dr. Sorensen said the surgery President Benson underwent is fairly standard to what has been done the past 20-30 years. "It's a very common procedure," he said.

The surgeon explained that hematomas might be expected in the aging process, especially when someone reaches age 90.

Dr. Sorensen said the clots were removed and President Benson "tolerated the surgery very well."