Barbara Bush Undergoes Heart Surgery

By: The Associated Press Email

Updated: Thu 6:38 PM, Jun 28, 2012

A family spokesman and hospital officials say 83-year-old former first lady Barbara Bush had successful open heart surgery Wednesday.

Family spokesman Jim McGrath said the surgery lasted about 2½ hours. It was scheduled last week after Mrs. Bush experienced a shortness of breath and doctors determined the valve had started to
harden.

Dr. Gerald Lawrie, heart surgeon at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, replaced the valve with a biologic valve. He said the surgery went "extremely well."

The hospital said that when left untreated a hardened aortic valve can result in heart failure or sudden cardiac death.

Lawrie said he expects her to recover fully and soon resume her
normal activities.

McGrath said Mrs. Bush was resting comfortably tonight and was
already up and talking.

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Barbara Bush Undergoes Heart Surgery

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