Lundqvist announced on December 17 that he has heart problems and today the goalkeeper wrote on social media that he must have surgery.
It is a large and complicated operation that is vital, says Stefan James, professor of cardiology at Uppsala University and chief physician at the University Hospital, for Radiosporten.
- It can lead to impaired heart function and eventually to death, he says to the channel.
Stefan James knows how the operation will go.
- This type of operation is a major operation.
It is an open heart operation where you connect the heart-lung machine, turn off the heart, open the chest and then you cut off both the aortic valve and the first part of the carotid artery.
Then you replace the flap with an artificial one, says the chief physician.
When - and if - Lundqvist can continue his NHL career is unclear.
- The probability of returning to an elite sports career is probably very small after an operation like this.
It takes a long time to regain its power and in the age of just under 40, the probability is very small, says Stefan James.