Cheney Underwent Heart Surgery Last Week for Recurring Vascular Disease
EmailABC News' Karen Travers reports:
Former Vice President Dick Cheney underwent a procedure last week to implant a pump into his heart to treat his recurring heart disease.
"The operation went very well, and I am now recuperating," the former vice president said in a statement released this afternoon.
The surgery took place at Inova Fairfax Heart and Vascular Institute, not The George Washington University Hospital where Cheney normally is treated.
Cheney has a long history of heart problems. He has had five heart attacks, the first in 1978 when he was just 37 years old, and the fourth in November 2000, after he and former President George W. Bush were elected to the White House.
In 2001, Cheney had a pacemaker installed into his chest, and last September, he underwent elective back surgery to treat lumbar spinal stenosis.
Cheney spent three days in the hospital at the end of June for treatment for fluid retention related to his coronary artery disease.
He received IV medication and his health “markedly improved,” his office said a day after he was admitted.
Today he said that in recent weeks, it became clear that he was "entering a new phase of the disease" when he began to "experience increasing congestive heart failure."
"After a series of recent tests and discussions with my doctors, I decided to take advantage of one of the new technologies available and have a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implanted," he said.
Cheney said the LVAD is a "small implantable pump that improves heart function" and said that the device "will enable me to resume an active life."
Cheney also was admitted to the George Washington Hospital on Feb. 22 after experiencing chest pains. His doctors later said it was a mild heart attack — his fifth. He was released on Feb 24.
That hospital stay forced the former vice president to miss a breakfast with his former boss, George W. Bush, and hundreds of former White House and campaign staffers.
That event, sponsored by the Bush-Cheney Alumni Association, was to be the first time the two met in person since they left office in January 2009.
Instead, Bush dropped by to visit Cheney at his home in Virginia on Feb. 25. Cheney and Bush, both sporting dark suits, shook hands and exchanged grins on the steps of Cheney's residence in McLean, Va., before turning to wave to the ABC News camera.
"Mr. President, welcome," began Cheney.
"Lookin' good," replied Bush.
"Holding up," said Cheney.
"Lookin' good," said Bush again.
"Could be worse," Cheney noted.
Cheney has kept himself in the public eye since leaving the White House, selectively choosing interviews and appearances to deliver stinging rebukes of the Obama Administration.
In February, he predicted that Obama will be a "one-term president." After the thwarted Christmas Day bomb plot, Cheney said that Obama was "trying to pretend we are not at war" with terrorists.
This is in stark contrast to former President Bush who has been largely invisible, living in Dallas and working on his presidential memoirs. The former president has given occasional speeches to business groups but has held his tongue when it comes to commenting on the Obama Administration.
ABC News' Kim Randolph and Jon Karl contributed to this report.
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Some might suggest that the V.P. is somewhat ‘heartless’.
Posted by: Dontget818 | July 14, 2010, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
I hope this will take care of these episodes.
Posted by: malcat | July 14, 2010, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
He won’t be shooting anyone anytime soon. That is a positive.
Posted by: Jim Bob | July 14, 2010, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
Can’t Fool God!
Posted by: sara | July 14, 2010, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
For each of us, our days on this earth are numbered.
Posted by: what667 | July 14, 2010, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
How much has the Fed Government spent on Mr Cheney’s health since he joined? Guess it’s more than the $1,000,000, $2,000,000 or $5,000,000 lifetime annual limit that is offered to group health plan participants.
Posted by: p | July 14, 2010, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
With him in and out of the hospital who did not see this COMING? Take care….
Posted by: BUNNY | July 14, 2010, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
Heart surgery? How did they find it?
Posted by: Mark | July 14, 2010, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
Hey Colonel Rebel — even if we have spent 5 million on Cheney that’s a hell of alot less that Obama Care is going to cost the US taxpayer, not to mention the waste of money on all the bailouts, payouts, welfare.
Posted by: Gauston in DC | July 14, 2010, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
As usual…same old BS posts whenever Cheney goes into the hospital.
Posted by: bo diddly | July 14, 2010, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
Heart Surgery for this guy is like a trip to the botox clinic for a soccer mom.
Posted by: Chris | July 14, 2010, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
MY husband has a Lvad, good luck. It has help alot
Posted by: Belinda | July 14, 2010, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
irony??? BP blow out valve..cheney blow out valve…whats going to go first?
Posted by: john | July 14, 2010, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
May God preserve this selfless patriot…
Posted by: Quo Warranto? | July 14, 2010, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
he is an idiot..heart surgery won’t help..brain surgery is a better option.
Posted by: king | July 14, 2010, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
hi idiot in dc, the cost of obama healthcare is atleast for americans..unlike the war in iraq. oh i forgot you are still looking for the wmd.
Posted by: joe | July 14, 2010, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
Mark wrote:”Heart surgery? How did they find it?”
.
Piece of cake compared to oBama’s brain surgeon.
Posted by: gk | July 14, 2010, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
I wonder how many heart donors would approve of their heart being placed in that chest.
Posted by: rightbehind | July 14, 2010, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Cheney is ultimately responsible for the gulf oil spill. Google – US Oil Industry deregulation – AND LEARN ALL ABOUT IT!
Posted by: truthwilloutyou | July 14, 2010, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
Now we know the man does not have a real heart.
Posted by: what667 | July 14, 2010, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
May God bless you and keep you Mr. Cheney, thank you for your life-long service to our country…
Posted by: Quo Warranto? | July 15, 2010, 12:37 am 12:37 am
May God Bless you Mr. V.P. Cheney. I hope you have a speedy recovery.
As for all the others who posted above, my God, how can you all be so heartless? Regardless of what your opinion is of anyone-these kind of cruel remarks are uncalled for! Shame on all of you. I do hope not any of you will ever have to experience such a traumatic surgery. I will pray for you all.
Posted by: Anna-Maria | July 15, 2010, 12:42 am 12:42 am
hopefully cheneys pump has a BP stamp on it!
Posted by: sky | July 15, 2010, 12:56 am 12:56 am
Was wondering why we haven’t heard that big mouth recently.
Posted by: Phil Roarke | July 15, 2010, 1:54 am 1:54 am
cheney needs to go to iraq and look for that wmd, instead of going to the hospital. so many american sacrificed their lives for this moron.
Posted by: kong | July 15, 2010, 2:15 am 2:15 am
I bet Mr. Cheney is very thankful to have his socialist healthcare plan that uses our money to pay for all of this.
Posted by: dk | July 15, 2010, 4:28 am 4:28 am
I wish this villain can just disappear from our lives….why are they still preserving his life anyway while he made so many people poor with his domineering participation in GW unfortunate era
Posted by: Briggs Adair | July 15, 2010, 6:19 am 6:19 am
If he does have a heart, it’s been tainted and dormant for a long, long time….
Posted by: Hege1321 | July 15, 2010, 6:38 am 6:38 am
Government healthcare seems to be working quite well for him. He’s lucky he could use his government healthcare to “take advantage” of the latest treatments. He’s a classic conservative fraud. Raging against the very government from which he has fed his entire life.
Posted by: E | July 15, 2010, 7:02 am 7:02 am
This “experimental” surgery was available to Cheney the man who was against health reform for the ordinary guy. I bet he is covered under a “government” plan even for this “experimental” procedure. I wish him well and hope it works. But I could not help but be reminded that this new technology would not be available to most of us because of the cost. It’s another example of the elite health care system the GOP supports.
Posted by: Gretchenmom | July 15, 2010, 7:26 am 7:26 am
Cheney seems to be in very late, severe stages of heart failure.
Im afraid he won’t live long enough to be prosecuted.
Posted by: Flash Override | July 15, 2010, 10:57 am 10:57 am
The LVAD is used in cases of heart failure. It’s considered a final step in maintaining survival, short of a heart transplant. Cheney no longer has a pulse to be felt or in any way measured. His heart lost the ability to beat or pump on its own and now the device is performing that. I don’t think his quality of life is going to be good because in reality, it’s a cumbersome internal and external device to wear at all times and keep maintained.
Posted by: jane | July 15, 2010, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Cheney seems to be in very late, severe stages of heart failure.
Im afraid he won’t live long enough to be prosecuted.
Posted by: Flash Override |
That’s what they are starting to say about the Gitmo detainees.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | July 15, 2010, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Chaney illustrate the imperfection, corrupted version of democracy which is really a myth. Disguised or blatant an elite minority who rules the rest usurp the power and the rest of us are ‘nice’ about it. Apathy, hopelessness, cowardice is how we contribute to this evil. This mutant toxic version makes capitalism a bad name. The stupid myth of reward in the afterlife keeps us from revolting and under the thumb. I am not sure we can evolve out of this malaise. Only revolution could wipe clean the slate.
Of course there are costs I would not dare to use the euphemism “collateral damage” instead of courage, care-driven sacrifice. Chaney’s example also illustrate legal thinking, dominance of economic forces that reward the lieutenants and political underlings and henchmen/women to keep the abomination going. I believe we should recycle organs to help others to survive, also the cadavers to put to good use instead decomposing in a pit or turn to ashes. Take a leaf out of NATURE. But save such vermin as Chaney and ceremoniously contain his remains to preserve on display as a reminder of evil, certainly not let it decay and part of nature the last and only good this monster could have done. Nature does not deserve to be so desecrated!
Posted by: Joseph Putnoki | July 15, 2010, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
I had Heartmate II LVAD implant after end stage heart failure from Chemo. I had cardiac failure on the way to operating table but due to excellent caliber of hospital staff I am doing well for past 16 months, I am a destination patient.I am Thankful to God, and excellent quality Medical care. Due to medicare plus supplimentary insurance I did not pay a penny. I was also able to see my grand child and play with her.
Posted by: M. Javid Malek | July 15, 2010, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm