Clinton Headed to Heart Surgery

Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow

Sept 3, 2004 -- Former President Bill Clinton has been admitted to Columbia-Presbyterian Center of New York Presbyterian Hospital today for heart problems.

Mr. Clinton saw a doctor yesterday for chest pain and shortness of breath. Today he had "additional tests" which established the need for coronary artery bypass surgery.

Comment: Among the "additional tests" we expect there was catherization with an angiogram that showed significant blockage of one or more of his coronary arteries. We wish Mr. Clinton well.

Sept 4, 2004 -- The "additional tests" Mr. Clinton had did include an angiogram. It reportedly showed significant narrowing of three or four coronary arteries and the plan is for triple or quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery.

"I guess I'm a little scared, but not much," Mr. Clinton told Larry King on CNN last night.

Comment: If one of us had to have bypass surgery, we'd be "a little scared," too.

Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.
Frederick Hecht, M.D.
Medical Editors, MedicineNet.com

Coronary Bypass Links

• CABG Guidelines Get New Update (guidelines for a coronary bypass)
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) (the procedure itself)

Heart Related Links

• Interactive Graphics Showing Clogged Arteries
• Focus on Heart Conditions, edited by cardiologist Daniel Lee Kulick, M.D.