Premier Andreas Papandreou’s health worsened Wednesday and doctors performed a tracheotomy after efforts to remove him from life support were unsuccessful.

A medical report issued by the hospital said the operation to open a hole in his windpipe was successful and Papandreou returned to his room in the intensive care ward. It described his condition as “stable.”

“As the use of the respirator is expected to continue, a tracheotomy was deemed necessary,” the report said.

In a tracheotomy, doctors make a slit through the neck into the windpipe to create a breathing hole. The respirator will continue to breathe for Papandreou, but it will be hooked up to the hole.