Cheney Back At Work After Heart Procedure

Doctors Say Electrical Shock To Vice President's Heart Restored It To Normal Rhythm

(CBS/AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney was back in his office Tuesday morning following the latest procedure to control an irregular heartbeat. A spokesman said Cheney plans a normal work day, CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer reports.

On Monday, doctors at George Washington University Hospital administered an electrical shock to Cheney's heart and restored it to a normal rhythm during a 2½ hour visit.

The procedure was described as a low-risk, standard practice.

Cheney, 66, who has a history of heart problems, was discovered to have an irregular heartbeat around 7 a.m. when he was seen by doctors at the White House for a lingering cough from a cold. He remained at work throughout the day, joining President Bush in meetings with Mideast leaders.

The irregular heartbeat was determined to be atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart, said spokeswoman Megan Mitchell. He went to the hospital about 5 p.m. and was discharged about 7:30 p.m.

"Atrial fibrillation is extremely common," said Dr. Zayd Eldadah, an electrophysiologist and director of cardiac arrhythmia research at Washington Hospital Center. "The way to get rid of it right away is to do what he did today. This is standard practice, low risk, easy to do."

He said Cheney's underlying heart problems were probably a factor in his atrial fibrillation. Aging is a common factor, too.

"He'll probably have other episodes," said Eldadah, who is not involved in Cheney's care. "Atrial fibrillation in and of itself is not threatening. The problem is that it has long term consequences. It increases the risk of stroke." He said Cheney probably would be put on the most potent blood thinner.

Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay described atrial fibrillation as "a common problem. About 2.8 million Americans have this problem and it's getting more common as the American population ages."

Senay said "it's a matter of disordered beating of the upper part of the heart, the atrium. When they don't beat correctly, they sort of quiver or shake a bit like Jell-O. It creates symptoms in many people, although in Cheney's case, apparently, he had no symptoms related to his heart."

But if the irregular heartbeat continues, it eventually can cause a life-threatening complication - the formation of blood clots that can shoot to the brain and cause a stroke.

The main treatment is to try an electrical shock to restore normal heartbeat. If that doesn't work, patients may need to take the blood thinner warfarin to reduce stroke risk.

"An electrical impulse was used to restore the upper chambers to normal rhythm," Mitchell said. "The procedure went smoothly and without complication. The vice president has returned home and will resume his normal schedule tomorrow at the White House."

It's the latest twist in a long catalog of health problems for the nation's second-highest office holder, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante. Cheney has had four heart attacks, the first back in 1978 when he was just 37 years old. He's also had quadruple bypass surgery, two angioplasties, an operation in 2001 to implant a defibrillator, which monitors his heartbeat, and over the summer, a procedure to replace that device.

The type of defibrillator Cheney has is used to prevent sudden death from a very different type of irregular heartbeat that starts in the bottom of the heart. The atrial fibrillation, in contrast, requires a different type of treatment.

In 2005, Cheney had six hours of surgery on his legs to repair a kind of aneurysm, a ballooning weak spot in an artery that can burst if left untreated. In March, doctors discovered that he had a deep venous thrombosis in his left lower leg. After an ultrasound in late April, doctors said the clot was slowly getting smaller.

[denn034]

I sent a helpful e-mail to the vice president and got blocked (i.e., I voted for him and Bush twice too) so, here''s a wholehearted don''t care.

[truthspeake2]

His heart beat and brain patterns both match now...both irregular!

[macusweil]

Hope he''s ok.. we''ll need him healthy to stand trial at some point.

[barbaraf4]

It is very difficult to care about this man. I believe he is the puppet master for the Moron in Chief.

[toadprophet]

Ron Paul was giving him a prostrate exam when it happened

[roger_inkart]

Maybe it''s God way from preventing the madman Cheney from dragging us into another pointless, counter productive war.

[arthurcl1]

Yes, it''s God''s way of telling Cheney it''s time to be tried for your War Crimes and Treasonous Behavior to humanity!

[gheemaster38]

***! Doctor should have just told him it was gas and sent him home..

[one_american]

Leaders like D1ck Cheney who serve their country''s interests deserve better that the liberal scum suckers that post here.

Move out, and THEN "Move On", moonbats.

[venkata4--2008]

"Hope he''''s ok.. we''''ll need him healthy to stand trial at some point.

Posted by macusweil at 04:04 PM : Nov 26, 2007"

Do you think that will happen really? Hope he dies like Slobodan Milosevic still arguing his case in jail cell in the international war crimes tribunal. So is his puppet Prez.

[erichsh]

I was wondering how long it would take for the left-wingers to start jumping up and down with joy, celebrating someone''s potentially serious health condition, and wishing death upon a politician solely because of philosophical disagreements. I see here that''s already happened. Disgraceful. Go ahead, fire back that Cheney''s acts are "disgraceful", he''s a "murderer"/"war criminal"/"ordered 9-11"/"blood for oil" yadayada, the arguments are predictable. It doesn''t detract from the disgraceful way in which you air your opposition to policies - by wishing death upon your detractor.

[arthurcl1]

Yes, it''''s God''''s way of telling Cheney it''''s time to be tried for your War Crimes and Treasonous Behavior to humanity!
It''''s God way from preventing the madman Cheney from dragging us into another pointless, counter productive war in IRAN Next!

[marcodele]

He has one?

[gheemaster38]

What service did this "thing" do? Oh, Vietnam? Nope scated out of that one? The only service he did to this country was a disservice. "You go to War with the Army You have, not the one you want" Well, D*ck you didnt go to war at all did you? Then again it is good he didnt go considering he shot his bestfriend during hunting. Can you imagine what he would have done behind an M60? He probably would have taken out a whole US platoon single handed. BY the way that wasnt his heart since he doesnt have one, He probably f*rted or something.

[venkata4--2008]

"I was wondering how long it would take for the left-wingers to start jumping up and down with joy, celebrating someone''''s potentially serious health condition, and wishing death upon a politician solely because of philosophical disagreements.

Posted by erichsh at 04:17 PM : Nov 26, 2007"

Can you please recollect who said then Israel prime minister is facing god''s anger when he suffered a debilitating stroke. A clue, he had also called for an assassination of Hugo Chavez. So you feel that VP is very innocent. Right ?

[bareemperor]

Time to change the antifreeze?

[erichsh]

"You''''re obviously not familiar with Ann Coulter and her wicked ways...why she can make a sailor blush when she speaks!"

I don''t condone Coulter''s methods any more than yours. But I do believe she''s way outnumbered in this department. Besides, just because you can single out one conservative commentator doesn''t bestow license to engage in the same disgraceful behavior.

[bareemperor]

He is experiencing wargasms over the coming Iran invasion...

[arthurcl1]

Maybe this will happen to War Profiterring Haliburton Millionaire Cheney!
But if the irregular heartbeat continues, it eventually can cause a life-threatening complication -- the formation of blood clots that can shoot to the brain and cause a stroke.

[hawksprings]

Liberals are sooooo mean-spirited.
And no sense of humor either.

"Better to go duck hunting with *** Cheney than for a car ride with Ted Kennedy."

[hwy71so]

I hope the same ailment does not befall either of you who rejoice in the ailment of another. I''m sure if eihter of you were injured and unable to help yourselves you''d be begging of anyone near, please help me...

[pared1]

WHOA this is big news!!!!! I never knew he had a heart.
(memo to doctor: make a mistake)

[simonsez40]

And this is news because....................it wouldn''t be news if he croaked............good riddance!

[olebd]

Must be his guilty conscience getting to him.

[realpatriot1]

hawksprings,

I''ll go riding with Ted Kennedy, so long as I can wear a life jacket and not lock the doors or roll up the windows.

I won''t go hunting with Cheney without body armor though.

[global_chick]

What a shock. Liberals wishing another human dead. Please tell me, how does that make you better than *** Cheney? What a disgusting show of hypocrisy.

[gramto7]

I guess Cheney''s defibrillator/pacemaker doesn''t work like it is supposed to. It should have given him a good kick when he went into atrial fib. That is one of its main reasons for being implanted. Otherwise he would have had a regular pacemaker, or possibly an A-V (atrial-ventricular) sequential pacemaker. Didn''t he jsut get a new battery not too long ago? Maybe it was as dead as his head is.

[fstop100]

if he dies does he have to give back all the money he stole from the American people?

[starleo146]

WHOA this is big news!!!!! I never knew he had a heart.
(memo to doctor: make a mistake)

Posted by pared1 at 04:29 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse

ROTFLMAO

[hwy71so]

Sorry if my comment offends you ozilot. My word stands. I''m sure if you were suffering you wouldn''t appreciate others taking jabs at you.

[mcvet]

What a shock. Liberals wishing another human dead. Please tell me, how does that make you better than *** Cheney? What a disgusting show of hypocrisy.


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Posted by global_chick at 04:44 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse

ROFLMAO Now what''s surprising about a Freaky Fascist blaming "Liberal''s"? ROFLMAO You have no more idea what these people are, (Liberal, Moderate or whatever). Bootlickers like you are the REASON we have this pathetic LOSER for a Vice. Besides what''s not to hate. I don''t know if I''m "Liberal" you freaks change the meaning every other day but it sure would make my day if the lower than LIFE Incompetent MORON were to turn 10 toes up. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[abdoul_pasha]

This *** Vheney is a fascist, very aggressive person I suggest sending him to hospital

[mcvet]

I don''''t condone Coulter''''s methods any more than yours. But I do believe she''''s way outnumbered in this department. Besides, just because you can single out one conservative commentator doesn''''t bestow license to engage in the same disgraceful behavior.


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Posted by erichsh at 04:24 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse

I wonder why you Nazi''s have never asked why so many American''s find this LOWER than LIFE LYING piece of Trash disgusting? It was HIS lies that took us into a War that our grandkids will be paying for. It was his vile attitude that outed a CIA Agent who''s job it was to determine IF Iraq had WMD''s. It was this lower than life piece of trash that''s responsible for the deaths of so many, including nearly 4,000 American''s. What''s not to hate? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[starleo146]

Posted by Hwy71So at 04:26 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+

His ailment is irregular heartbeat, I have more sympathy for the troops walking around with detached limbs and brain injuries that effect these troops forever and his government are cheating them on disability payments about his heart all I can say is more money has been paid for his heart problems and all I can say is AWWWWW. Worry about our veterans, he has millions to take care of himself with.

[prairiefox1]

LET HIM CHEAT OR KILL SOMEONE AND HIS HEART WILL BEHAVE !

[erichsh]

MCVet - the term "liberal" is only meant to imply or characterize your political leanings. We try to avoid terms like "freak", "scumbag", and "bootlicker" when engaging in political debate with an opponent because we believe that kind of venomous, disgraceful taunting and name-calling is juvenile, serves no purpose, and only engaged in by those incapable of having an intelligent discussion about current events.

[oeangus]

What a shock. Liberals wishing another human dead. Please tell me, how does that make you better than *** Cheney? What a disgusting show of hypocrisy. - Posted by global_chick

LOL, nice try. The guy is a criminal and should be in prison. He''s fair game as far as any and all negative remarks directed his way.

[prairiefox1]

IS HE ON A DEAD POOL!

[mcvet]

Sorry if my comment offends you ozilot. My word stands. I''''m sure if you were suffering you wouldn''''t appreciate others taking jabs at you.


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Posted by Hwy71So at 04:47 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse

Yes but we''re talking about a flat out NAZI here, a man who has no soul. Why so much concern for him? He has NONE for you or anyone else for that matter. It''s good to hate something so Un American, who has done so much harm to our nation. It''s GOOD!!! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[starleo146]

Posted by ozilot at 04:49 PM : Nov 26, 2007


I''m with you I do not want him to die I want him tried and convicted .So live Cheney Live.

[mcvet]

MCVet - the term "liberal" is only meant to imply or characterize your political leanings. We try to avoid terms like "freak", "scumbag", and "bootlicker" when engaging in political debate with an opponent because we believe that kind of venomous, disgraceful taunting and name-calling is juvenile, serves no purpose, and only engaged in by those incapable of having an intelligent discussion about current events.


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Posted by erichsh at 04:54 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse

Oh get off your high horse Sparky!! You and EVERYONE else knows what you Fascist have done with the Term LIBERAL and EVERYONE knows you have trashed the history of this nation in doing so. Is that different... no but at one time or the other you freaks have branded about 90% of the American People as being "liberal". In other words you are practicing FASCISM by putting everyone who doesn''t agree with you into a box to hate. YOU and all the fascist who support your fuhrer are disgusting and have NOT earned respect with your actions and attitudes. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[abdoul_pasha]

This guy must be sent to the prison.

[prairiefox1]

JUST WHO WOULD TRY AND CONVICT! HIS FELLOW GANGSTERS?

[starleo146]

LET HIM CHEAT OR KILL SOMEONE AND HIS HEART WILL BEHAVE !

Posted by prairiefox1 at 04:53 PM : Nov 26, 20

LOVE IT!!!! LOL!!!! he has had it coming do you think Darth Vader cares about anything we say I do not think he cares what we think as the last 7 years proves.

[fibonacci_]

Yea...how very sad indeed - not. I hate to root for people to die. But...

"My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators." %u2013Dick Cheney

I do NOT think he believed this...just propaganda, he said something very difference in defense of us pulling out of gulf war and not taking down Saddam.

"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction." %u2013Dick Cheney

I do not hope he dies, just that he gives up his power.

[abdoul_pasha]

People accept the |American soldiers in Iraq as occupators.

[prairiefox1]

WHEN HE DIES THE FLAMES OF HELL WILL SPEW FROM VOLCANOES AROUND THE WORLD!

[starleo146]

Hey d.ick lover what about the millions of Americans who do have the same ailment as your precious vice d.ick...especially the kids who might have had a chance for medical coverage if Shrub hadn''''t vetoed the SCHIP bill or if the GOPers would finally recognize the need for national health coverage so everyone would have access to doctors and medicines...

But No the vice d.ick doesn''''t like that social program only the rich like him deserve to have medical coverage and the rest of us can go suck eggs.

What a maroon!

Posted by ozilot at 04:33 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse
GOOD POINT They don''t get it. It is like a football game all they care about is there team, well I would rather loose than have a team as crooked as them.

[prairiefox1]

THE WORLD CURSES THE DAY HE WAS BORN!

[abdoul_pasha]

This guy is a criminal, Osama bin Laden number 2