BREAKING: George W. Bush undergoes successful surgery to open blockage in heart artery

[AngryOldDem]

Source: NBC News

Former President George W. Bush underwent a procedure Tuesday morning to have a stent placed in an artery after a blockage was discovered in an annual physical examination, according to his office.

The procedure was conducted at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. According to a statement, the blockage was discovered at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas on Monday and at the recommendation of his doctors, he agreed to go ahead with the procedure which was successful.

President Bush is in "high spirits," according to the statement and is "eager to return home tomorrow and resume his normal schedule on Thursday. He is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him. He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups."


Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/

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EDITED to add story. This is it, folks; no need to go to the link.

[heaven05]

1. no comment

[onehandle]

2. That's a relatively minor procedure these days. nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. He has one?1?!?!

[jwirr]

18. He has an artery - don't know if the rest of the heart is there.

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. Good point!

The artery likely stops just short. He inherits that from his mother. The lack of a brain is due to his father.

[MissDeeds]

4. He has a heart?

Bet they had to bring out the binoculars to find it.

[hobbit709]

6. Electron microscope.

[AlbertCat]

29. Electron microscope.

You'll need that for the brain, not the heart.

[liberal N proud]

7. George W Bush Binoculars

[Beacool]

22. Is that pic real or was it photoshopped?

I always wondered.

[zbr6]

35. Its probably real

My guess is he raised them up and realized the cap was on but you know those photographers snapping away at 100 shots a minute caught him anyway.

As for the OT, heart problems are terrible and can strike anybody so stay healthy!

[Beacool]

48. Thanks for responding.

That IS a funny pic. LOL!!!

As for his heart issues. I don't wish that on anyone.

You too stay healthy.

[William769]

56. You decide.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/binoculars.asp

[AngryOldDem]

12. Maybe the banner should read: BREAKING: George Bush has a heart. n/t

[LiberalEsto]

21. +1

Who knew?

[kentauros]

51. No, it was big and looks like this:

[cosmicone]

58. GW is the one without the brain and Cheney is the one without a heart

everyone knows it hahaha.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Speedy recovery to him.

[treestar]

62. +1

[Gore1FL]

81. Thank You

I was surprised to see the lack of human compassion on this thread. Your post stands out positively.

[dorkzilla]

8. He underwent surgery to have a heart ADDED.

He thought having a heart would make him a better painter.

[mikeysnot]

9. Looks like those

Bologna on white bread sandwiches are catching up to him....

[bullwinkle428]

10. Of course, during his "reign", the media always tried to portray him

as this total physical marvel. A magnificent specimen that managed to keep up with Lance Armstrong on his mountain bike, and riding at a pace that tired out the Secret Service agents assigned to ride alongside him.

I'm SHOCKED that this was nothing more than smoke and mirrors!

[Greybnk48]

16. That's EXACTLY what I thought of first! It was all baloney!

The "healthiest President in history," was just more lies. And notice we never saw REAL footage of him keeping up with Armstrong when he's riding full out (and I wouldn't believe a single word Armstrong says right now anyway).

That said, I hope his Docs do "a heck of a job" keeping him safe and healthy.

[yellowcanine]

49. Being physically fit is not a guarantee you will not have cardiac vascular diseases.

It just reduces the risk. Diet is also important, as are genetics.

[cosmicone]

59. But he fell off a Segway! n/t

[Hekate]

61. Physical fitness is no guarantee against heart disease

Dubya had muscles we could all see from time to time due to those bicycle shorts -- according to written accounts he had an exercise compulsion.

[jmowreader]

67. Remember Jim Fixx?

He was the guy who popularized running...he died of atherosclerosis, and croaked right after a long run.

So yeah, I can believe our gym rat ex-prez needed this kind of surgery.

[Myrina]

11. Sure glad he's got access to socialized healthcare ...

n/t

[democrank]

13. Get well, George W. and consider yourself lucky that your heart beats at all.

Some hearts don`t beat anymore. Like the hearts of those soldiers you killed with your lies.

[llmart]

72. Rec

+1,000,000

[Botany]

14. I have a hard time having any sympathy for W

[earthside]

20. No sympathy for Bush.

I am really not a mean and vindictive person ... but when it comes to Bush and Cheney ...

I'm sorry, but because of what they did to thousands and thousands and thousands of Americans and innocent Iraqis, well, they cannot suffer enough in their remaining lifetimes, in my opinion.

[BlueToTheBone]

15. I knew he had a bad heart. One day it will

attack him. It may be the only justice we receive in this world regarding *

[Beacool]

17. It appears that they put in a stent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/george-w-bush-hospitalized_n_3712804.html

[AlRod]

23. Wondering if and,

Thought they were still trying to get his head out of his ass.

[BlueManFan]

24. Opportunity Missed

Maybe they should have snuck in a conscience.

[graywarrior]

25. OMG, that poor poor man. I could just cry.

I'm glad they didn't tell us before hand coz I woulda been frantic with worry. Hope he is gonna be ok.

[AlbertCat]

26. That's nice.... (I suppose WE paid for it)

....next item.....

[MADem]

27. High spirits? Enjoying the post op drugs?

Everyone's getting those things these days...

[MarianJack]

28. If he'd have been operated on by a proctologist, than...

...we'd have known that it was brain surgery...micro-surgery, at that!

PEACE!

[Lars39]

76. I still think of having a colonoscopy as a Bush Brain Scan.

[MarianJack]

83. That's Good!

Do you mind if I use it?

PEACE!

[Lars39]

84. Sure!

Didn't originate with me, though, I lifted it from DU.

[MarianJack]

85. Must be that great minds thing again!

PEACE!

[peace13]

30. Oh that every American could have this life saving procedure if necessary.

That is all......

[AngryOldDem]

36. Exactly.

I know someone with an aortic aneurysm. At some point it will have to be repaired and the cost could run as high as six figures. And then there is a recovery time of six months or longer. He's already said that when that time comes, he will basically do a cost/benefit analysis. If it's too much of a financial burden, he won't have the surgery. He will not bankrupt himself or his family for it.

Such is the choice we are being forced to make in this great country of ours. Health care is such an unaffordable luxury that it's just better to die.

[PorridgeGun]

40. My first thought as well

..that the "routine" tests he had were anything but routine for average Americans.

I had a doctor tell me once that if you're getting to "that age" and have some family history, have smoked, poor diet etc. to lie. Tell them you get dull pressure under your sternum and nausea on exertion that resolves with rest etc. You get the idea.

He told me this stems from the fact that it is more cost effective for HMO's to treat cardiovascular disease after an acute event rather than testing people who fall into certain risk categories and catching it before a real problem happens. This sounded a bit silly.. angiograms, bypasses, drugs etc. are all very expensive.. until it was pointed out to me that the first sign of previously undiagnosed heart disease for a third of people who have it is sudden cardiac arrest, which conveniently reduces future treatment costs to an autopsy.

[area51]

55. +1

If only this were a civilized, first-world country with health care as a basic human right.

[leveymg]

31. Must have been the artery that leads to the brain.

[bluedigger]

32. Regular schedule of what?

Vodka and selfies?

[Mira]

34. ...

[formercia]

33. The doctors didn't dare open him up

for fear his Heart might try to escape.

[Tikki]

37. no comment..

[Dawson Leery]

38. Unlike so many, this privileged son can easily afford it.

[Auggie]

39. +1,000,000

[MyNameGoesHere]

41. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups." Except for

those poor bastards that can't afford it. Now watch me hit this ball.

[marions ghost]

73. Yeah

like everybody has access to good health care.

[reflection]

42. I don't like W, but out of respect for the office

I sent him a gift basket full of Rold Golds.

[dipsydoodle]

43. Its bad form to speak ill of the dead

so I'll say nothing.

[kestrel91316]

44. They put in a stent because he has been eating a very rich, cholesterol-laden diet

for his whole life. I can't imagine him changing his ways. He'll need another, and then he'll need a bypass or three, and then a heart attack will get him.

At least Bill Clinton had the sense to finally go whole food, plant-based, low-fat so he'll do well in the long run. I can't see Bush admitting that he needs to change - that's simply not in him.

[Jamastiene]

45. At least the Scarecrow was smart enough to ask the Wizard

for a brain.

So, now we know both Cheney and Bush actually had hearts, after all, but they did not function correctly.

You are welcome, George W. Bush, not that you'd ever thank tax payers for your medical care that you get using our tax money while many of us cannot afford the most basic care.

[uwep]

46. I really do not care

he did not care about NOLA, over 100K Iraqis, 4k Americans, and trillion $ not budgeted.
Why should we care about him???

[LittleGirl]

47. wished the whole country had his healthcare eom

[No Vested Interest]

50. Stents are fairly routine; you're not even anesthetized

One can watch the procedure being done to oneself on a monitor.
I have five stents, two different procedures; family history of heart disease.

Interesting that the problem was found at the Cooper Clinic. This was founded by Dr. Kenneth Cooper ca 40 yrs ago. He's the doc who first popularized aerobic exercise.

[shanti]

63. on a serious note

how is a blockage discovered?

[AngryOldDem]

65. Through heart scans, ultrasounds, and such.

I believe Bush found his the way most do -- he was asymptomatic and this showed up during a physical.

[No Vested Interest]

66. Patient reports symptoms to medical personnel (shortness of breath, for example)

Doc orders tests- Stress test on treadmill. You are assigned a (fairly high) target heart rate based on your age. Various monitors placed on your body; the rate of the treadmill and the incline are gradually increased, causing the heart rate to increase.

The test can also be given chemically rather than on a treadmill, causing the heart rate to increase, for those unable to do a treadmill test. I had this test one time, and felt very uncomfortable with that test, and continue to have a modified (shorter time period) treadmill test, owing to bad knees.

If the test indicates a heart problem, the cardiologist will order an angiogram, wherein a small tube is inserted into the groin or, more recently, someplace on the upper body, and inched up to the heart. A dye is run through the tube and, if there is a blockage, it will be shown on the monitor.

The physician will then insert one or more stents through the tube to open the blocked vein or artery.

The patient may have been sedated but not anesthetized and can often see the procedure being performed. The patient must be very careful that the area of entry (femoral artery in the groin) is fully sealed so that bleeding does not occur. Some patients can go home the same day, some may need to stay overnight.

I am not a medical person, so someone with training may be able to explain the procedure better than I, but that's the gist of it, to the best of my ability. There are likely many medical sites that can give you a more exact account.

[shanti]

69. Thank you

That was very informative. I asked my dr for a stress test (family history of heart issues), but she only asked me why and didn't order one. I couldn't understand why not

[No Vested Interest]

78. The cost is considerable.

I'm covered by Medicare Advantage, and had to pay very little - I don't recall.

Is your dr. a primary care physician? Perhaps they don't wish to get into ordering stress tests, but a cardiologist would, if you report symptoms. Perhaps family history is not reason enough in and of itself without symptoms.

An annual physical might include a EKG; if anything's askew there ask your physician for a referral to a cardiologist.
If nothing's wrong, count your blessings and eat well, exercise, no smoking, and alcohol in moderation.

Make sure you know your cholesterol counts, - total, LDL, HDL, etc.

I have been on a number of medications - blood pressure, blood thinner, anti-cholesterol, low-dose aspirin - since the stents were inserted and cardiologist says I'm doing fine.

Good luck in your quest for good health.

[Ilsa]

79. I had a friend who had a cardiovascular workup at the

Cooper Clinic. They said he was fine. Then a month later he had a heart attack. His new cardiologist looked over his Cooper Clinic workup and said they blew it big time.

They might be great at rehab, but I guess it al depends on which dr is testing.

[on point]

52. I'm sure it was exploratory surgery, at least until they found his heart

[cliffordu]

53. No comment.

[Sanity Claws]

54. His heart has been blocked his whole life

Interesting how someone totally lacking in empathy has heart blockages.
Or in the case of Darth Cheney, a dead heart that had to be replaced with a machine.

Just stream of consciousness thinking.

[rocktivity]

57. He's in "high spirits" and is "eager to resume his normal schedule?"

His normal schedule of what -- DRINKING high spirits?

And who is he to be telling people to get regular checkups? His idea of health care is to go to the emergency room!


rocktivity

[jtuck004]

60. Huh. I figured a black hole would just suck all the instruments into it. n/t

[Iggo]

64. Yeah, whatever.

[prole_for_peace]

68. So I'm going to assume he went to the emergency room for medical care

“The immediate goal is to make sure there are more people on private insurance plans. I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room.”
George W. Bush, 2007

[olddad56]

70. Sorry to hear about this. Sorry that it was successful.

I would normally not speak ill of sick people, but I don't consider him a people.

[Jefferson23]

71. He never had a heart, not ever...nor a conscience. Miserable bastard:

They did it by denying detainees legal process because, as the CIA’s Inspector General put it in a 2004 report, when you torture someone you create an “Endgame” problem: You end up with detainees who, “if not kept in isolation, would likely divulge information about the circumstances of their detention.”

They managed all this, for a time, through secrecy—a secrecy that depended on the aggressive suppression of two groups of voices.

Over and over again, in Afghanistan and Iraq, in Guantánamo, in secret CIA black sites and at CIA headquarters, in the Pentagon, and in Washington, men and women recognized the torture for what it was and refused to remain silent. They objected, protested, and fought to prevent, and then to end, these illegal and immoral interrogations. While the president and his top advisers approved and encouraged the torture of prisoners, there was dissent in every agency, at every level.

The documents are full of these voices. In fact, it is thanks to these dissenters that much of the documentary record exists. From emails among FBI agents sharing their shock over scenes they had witnessed in interrogation booths in Guantánamo, to letters and memoranda for the record, to major internal investigations, the documents show that those who ordered and carried out the torture did so despite constant warnings and objections that their actions were ineffective, short-sighted, and wrong. It is no wonder that so many of these documents were suppressed.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/04/george_w_bush_and_torture_america_s_highest_officials_are_responsible_for_the_enhanced_interrogation_of_prisoners_.html

Fuck you, George W. Bush

[Hubert Flottz]

74. Oh I'm really sorry...

that they found the blockage in time to fix it!

[Jamaal510]

75. I'm not the

biggest Bush ll fan, but good for him that he is OK. I just wish that more Americans would have access to at least the same health care that he gets.

[ejpoeta]

77. I am so glad that he has access to healthcare and life saving procedures when needed

without having to worry about going bankrupt and losing everything.

[penultimate]

86. Most valid point made on this thread (imo)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

80. Go to the light, Carol Anne!

[valerief]

82. Another POS who keeps hanging on. nt

[jasond54231]

87. That man has a heart?

That's news to me, to be perfectly honest. I don't think someone with a real heart would be so thoroughly involved with something as bloody as the Iraq War. I wonder if a microscope is needed to find it?

As they say, only the good die young. Sad.

[stevenleser]

88. Two sizes too small no doubt. nt