Ahn Jae-wook Has Emergency Brain Surgery

Actor Ahn Jae-wook has undergone a five-hour-long operation for a subarachnoid hemorrhage in his brain in the U.S.

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Ahn suddenly threw up and complained of a fierce headache during dinner at the home of his agency's CEO in Las Vegas on Sunday. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

After a CT scan and an MRI, he was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage. He had brain surgery there from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday, his agency announced Wednesday.

In a subarachnoid haemorrhage, blood pools between membranes surrounding the brain because of the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Serious cases require an incision in the brain, while in lighter cases the hematoma can be removed through a hole in the skull.

"It was major surgery, but it seems the doctor didn't have to open the brain", the agency said. "He's recovering in ICU and has no problem communicating or moving around. He's been making excellent progress since the operation".

But Ahn will have to stay in hospital for more than a week and in the U.S. for about a month for outpatient treatment, he added.

He added Ahn urged his fans not to worry too much.

Ahn finished a run of the musical "Rudolf" in Seoul in January and was looking forward to taking the show to the provinces. That schedule will now have to be readjusted.