web page Former President Clinton Undergoes Heart Procedure After Chest Pains
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Bill Clinton underwent a heart procedure at a New York City hospital Thursday to get two stents implanted after he felt "discomfort in his chest," a representative for the former president said.
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Reuters
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks during his visit to the Rabin Center in Tel Aviv November 14, 2009. Clinton is one of the delegates attending an annual forum organized by the Saban Center for research and analysis of U.S. policy in the Middle East, held in Jerusalem and Ramallah between November 14-16. Reuters/Baz Ratner (ISRAEL HEADSHOT POLITICS)
Bill Clinton underwent a heart procedure at a New York City hospital Thursday to get two stents implanted after he felt "discomfort in his chest," a representative for the former president said.
The former president is in "good spirits" after the operation at the Columbia campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital, Clinton laywer Douglas Band said in a written statement. Clinton underwent the procedure to place the stents in one of his coronary arteries following a visit to his cardiologist, Band said.
"President Clinton ... will continue to focus on the work of his foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts," he said.
Former President George W. Bush, who is working with Clinton on the relief efforts in Haiti, and his wife, Laura, sent his prayers to him for a speedy recovery.
"President Bush spoke to Chelsea Clinton this afternoon and was glad to hear that her father is doing well and that his spirits are high," David Sherzer, spokesman for the former president, said in a written statement.
"President Bush looks forward to continuing to work with his friend on Haiti relief and rebuilding," he added.
Former President George H.W. Bush, who teamed up with Clinton in 2005 for tsunami relief efforts in Asia, also wished Clinton a "speedy and full recovery."
Clinton went through quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 to free four blocked arteries. Sources told Fox News that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has left Washington to be with her husband in New York City.
Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld told Fox News that this incident is common for people who have had bypass surgery.
"It's no uncommon when the coronary artery is blocked, there are two major options for restoring blood flow to the portion of the heart muscle that's been deprived," Rosenfeld said. "One is angioplasty and the other is bypass surgery."
Rosenfeld added that "the angioplasty is much easier but over the long run, bypass operations carry less chance of the artery becoming occluded down the road."
The former president is leading fundraising efforts for the Haiti earthquake recovery effort alongside former President George W. Bush and recently traveled to the country. A Democratic source close to the family told Fox News the former president had been feeling ill after returning and complaining of chest pains for "days."
"This is something that I believe was there just waiting to cause a problem," he said.
Dr. Steven Garner of New York Methodist Hospital told Fox News the "stress" of the president's recent trips to Haiti could have triggered a heart problem.
A hospital spokeswoman declined to comment.
It's unclear whether the surgery will affect Hillary Clinton's travel plans. She was scheduled to leave for a trip to the Middle East on Friday.
A State Department official told Fox News that for now, Clinton's trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar is "still on."