US: Former US President Clinton was resting comfortably last night after undergoing successful quadruple heart bypass surgery at a Manhattan hospital, the medical team involved reported.
The 73-minute operation was completed just before 1.30 p.m. local time yesterday, three days after Clinton was taken to New York Presbyterian's Columbia Centre suffering chest pains and shortness of breath. Head surgeon Dr Craig Smith said the operation was relatively routine. In several of the vessels the blockage was well over 90 per cent and "there was a substantial likelihood he would have a substantial heart attack in the near future," he said.
The former president was awake but still sedated, according to another member of the medical team, Dr Allan Schwartz. He would spend a period of time in intensive care and continue recuperation at home with a schedule of exercise within a period of weeks. Dr Smith, the hospital's chief of cardiothoracic surgery, said Mr Clinton (58) could leave hospital in four to five days and to be fully fit again in two to three months.
A vein from Mr Clinton's left leg was used in replacing the clogged arteries. In a statement Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her daughter said: "Chelsea and I thank God and the incredible medical team and staff here . . . for taking such good care of my husband." They stayed up late the night before, they said, talking and playing games. The experience was "quite a roller coaster for us" and they were confident Mr Clinton's "optimism and faith" will carry him through the weeks ahead.
Mr Clinton's health problems brought a surge of sympathy from across the country, with 30,000 get-well messages and phone calls from political figures, including Vice President Dick Cheney who also had bypass surgery some years ago. Dr Allan Schwartz said the reason they waited several days to conduct the operation was because Mr Clinton had been placed on a blood thinning medicine and it would be safe to wait until this was completed.
The operation was conducted by a 15-member team including three surgeons.