Kennedy in surgery on blocked artery

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BOSTON - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underwent surgery Friday after doctors discovered a partially blocked artery in his neck during an examination of his back, which was injured in a 1964 airplane crash.

Kennedy, 75, underwent the hourlong procedure on his left carotid artery at Massachusetts General Hospital, his office announced. The operation, performed by Dr. Richard Cambria, the hospital's chief of vascular surgery, was completed without complications, and the Massachusetts Democrat was expected to be released in several days.

"As part of a routine evaluation of Senator Kennedy's back and spine, MRI studies picked up an unrelated, asymptomatic blockage in the senator's left carotid artery," said a statement from Kennedy's Washington office. "This morning, Senator Kennedy underwent preventive surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital to remove the blockage."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_re_us/kennedy_surgery;

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sending good thoughts

[Virginia Dare]

1. Speedy recovery, Senator, glad they caught it...n/t

[DarthDem]

7. Best Wishes

To one of my all-time favorite Senators. Please get well soon, Teddy.

[saracat]

2. Prayers and light for Teddy.He is a great man.and a wonderful Senator.

[bdamomma]

3. get well Senator Kennedy.

thank goodness they removed that blockage, we do not want to lose you.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Sen. Kennedy N/T

[aquart]

5. He's 75? Yikes!

Thank god he's got decent health care.

[rodeodance]

6. this type of procedure has a high risk of dislodging small bits. I do not know

the risk factor analysis.

best to him and his family

[EST]

29. You are too right.

But leaving the big one in place was a sudden death at any instant, should that one have come unglued and plugged his brain.

I'd bet the level of power servicing ancient and valuable leader types are the very best and quite clear about the cost/benefit. Still worrisome. We haven't many like him.

[Triana]

8. Best Wishes to Senator Kennedy....

....I believe such surgery is fairly routine. Not riskless by any means, but he should be just fine. VERY HAPPY they caught this - else it WOULD have been serious.

[IndyOp]

9. I am so glad they caught it! Best wishes, Senator. (n/t)

[mogster]

10. Speedy recovery, Senator Kennedy

:-)

[Judi Lynn]

11. Hope the procedure got the job done. Senator Kennedy is irreplaceable. n/t

[Swagman]

12. praying for you tonight Senator Kennedy

[Bombero1956]

13. glad all went well

my former boss just had this same surgery 2 weeks ago and it didn't go as well. Part of the clot detached and ended up in his eye. Now he's partially blind in that eye. It could've gone to his brain instead so at least he was lucky in that regard.

[williesgirl]

14. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Senator. Feel better FAST, we need you. rec'd

[roguevalley]

15. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: READ THIS

My dad had massive strokes from this happening to him and no one know it had. You MUST insist that your doctor listen to your neck with their stethoscope when you go to the doctor. If they hear a rushing sound, which is probably what happened here, it can signal a blockage. This is a bad, bad thing to happen to you, trust me.

[Mend]

17. also check your newspapers, etc for low-cost (medicare was free) sonogram screens. We had one

here last year...they did the carotids, aorta, and femoral arteries that go to your legs.

[TomInTib]

22. A friend of mine decided "What the heck" and had a screen. 95% blockage...

Right-side carotid artery.

And he hadn't felt a thing.

[Mend]

28. wow, hope he is okay.

[TomInTib]

30. Yeah, I saw him at a party on Monday.

Nice scar.

His surgery was only two weeks ago.

He was really lucky.

But he is always lucky.

Goes to Vegas and comes back with more than he left with. Every time.

And he has won the California Lottery.

Twice.

Actually he won once and his wife won once.

[EST]

31. They said it was asymptomatic and any good doctor, internist,

or diagnostician would, without fail, listen to the carotids. I suspect, given the quality of health care available to them and the pressure on the docs to miss nothing and do a good job, the story is that Senator Kennedy is a lucky man. Had they not actually seen it, oh my!
Gives one pause, eh?

[Gregorian]

16. Here's to a full recovery! This is big. We may see a new man emerge.

I have spent a lot of time in cardiology. An occluded carotid artery can have dramatic effects on a person's entire being. I really am hoping he fully recovers and has even clearer thinking, and a long life ahead of him. We need him very much.

[Fearless]

19. Hear hear!

:patriot:

[Fearless]

18. Just be back in time for the SCHIP override.

[earthboundmisfit]

20. Dear Senator Kennedy, get well soon -

Love,
United States of America

[Gman]

21. Not good

I've known 2 people that had that operation. 1 died, the other later had a stroke. The trick, the way I understand it, is to filter the plaque and keep it from going to the brain during and after the operation.

Prayers for the last of the three brothers.

[EST]

32. Good point.

My internist described the newer procedure like that. Makes a lot of sense.

If I were working on a hydraulic or pneumatic system, I'd put a temporary filter downline before making the repair and distributing detritus throughout the system.

[Gman]

35. I believe that's exactly what they do.

[DeepModem Mom]

23. More good thoughts. K&R

[Acadia Blue]

24. Hope he is ok. Its a serious surgery.

[Democrafty]

25. Speedy recovery, Senator! n/t

[Pastiche423]

26. Sending healing thoughts

for a quick recovery, Senator Kennedy!

[me b zola]

27. Best wishes, Senator Kennedy

Sending healing prayers to you.

[cadmium]

33. Ted is in good hands.

His surgical team is excellent. They do a lot of these procedures They will just as willingly take care of the poor as they are for the senator.

[midnight]

34. Quick recovery Senator Kennedy.

[DesertRat]

36. Get Well, Senator Kennedy! n/t

[tabasco]

37. Get well soon, Senator Kennedy!

We need you back ASAP to keep fighting the Bush goons.

[Olney Blue]

38. Get back to work, ASAP! You are the best senator in Congress.

[skyblue]

39. Senator Kennedy, Take Care and Get Well ----We need your Voice!!