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.

[forthepeopl1]

someone meeting with him should bring along the strongest magnet and place it right on his chest.

[sgtrds]

And guest starring on the rangerdahl and floydzepp show is feedback3, a proud American wishing that a fellow human being with a wife, kids, and grandkids would die. That''''s nice. God Bless America.

Posted by rangerdahl at 11:52 AM : Nov 27, 2007

In the first place Cheney is NOT an American, he''s an internationalist and doesn''t give a dam*n about America or Americans beyond how much money he can suck out of our treasury before he skips off to rejoin Halliburton in Dubai to spend the money he''s stolen.

Secondly he can''t have real children and grand children because bloodsucking parasites like him do not reproduce human children since he''s not human.

[ianlou]

What a waste of medical attention,
Cheney''s heart can''t be stopped with anything less than wooden stake.

[usayesterday]

I wonder how Ron Paul would handle Cheney''s heart problem?!

Mr. Prophet... could you please tell us!

There are some on this board who have begun to grow tired of the FloydZepp/rangerdahl exchange.

[ov442]

that guy deserves a bit more shock treatment than they gave him.

[neoconrcrazy]

"Cheney Back At Work After Heart Procedure"



*****!

[rangerdahl]

And guest starring on the rangerdahl and floydzepp show is feedback3, a proud American wishing that a fellow human being with a wife, kids, and grandkids would die. That''s nice. God Bless America.

[feedback3-2009]

Ladies and Gentleman the "rangerdahl" and "FloydZepp" show!

Maybe you could both shut up so we can back to the task at hand, waiting for Cheney to finally die.

[rangerdahl]

FloydZepp:

Come on man, the REAL military? You have to do better than that. What exactly is the REAL military? I''ve been in 25 years; still in; been all around the world, served with good guys and bad, and have a pretty good handle on what the military is...what are your qualifications to separate real from not real? You know squat. You and your ilk sit around the dinner table and spout philosophy when you don''t know sh*t. And for the guy who told me to go F@ck myself--I will right after I do your wife.

[rangerdahl]

FloydZepp:

I thought I told you to get me a pot pie and a beer.

[rangerdahl]

FloydZepp:

And, while I''m at it...go make me a pot pie and bring me a beer...I''m all done in from the desert sun. And turn down that awful Pink Floyd racket and crank the John Philip Sousa.

[rangerdahl]

FloydZepp:

I don''t know why you are so obsessed with the admiration that military guys get now...are you jealous? I can tell you this, the ladies sure like us. Maybe that''s because a balding middle aged guy still living in the 70''s and cranking up "Stairway to Heaven" isn''t as appealing as a strapping young guy with a gun and a good haircut. Dude, get over it. For now, the laurels fall on us. In time, maybe you will find your time in the sun.

[rangerdahl]

FloydZepp:

Nice. I peg you as about late 40s/early 50s...small arms, gut, balding with a mullet, mustache, college degree, tie, and pissed at yourself for not raising your right hand and serving. Look man...go smoke a doobie and relax. Right on!

[rangerdahl]

FloydZepp:

What? No pitty party here, in fact, I feel bad for most others. Moreover, I feel superior to most folks. Because unlike most Americans, I can find my country on a globe. I don''t need the pats on the back and other BS from anyone--been in 25 years and couldn''t care less. So do me a favor, save the speech for someone else you "crazy diamond."

[rangerdahl]

Aw, the usual cast of characters slamming the conservatives and Republicans--including that clueless, sackless, brainless, emotional, candy-@ss MCVet. I just spent two weeks in Iraq with some real heroes and now I''m wallowing with liberal, Bush and heney hating, Hillary loving, American loathing scumbags thatnever served or woho did serve but di it half-@ss and without honor. MCVet: go outside and get some fresh air you Communist, Stalin loving, socialist punk.

[v_1618]

CHENEY WHEN YOU GONNA DIE YOU LUCKY BAZTARD..

[oleander8]

"...although in Cheney''s case, apparently, he had no symptoms related to his heart."

Easily explained, (drum roll...) he has no heart.

[roger_inkart]

All you dummy liberals will lose in 08

Posted by poopusbuttus at 10:15 AM : Nov 27, 2007

Right. The moderates and indepedents that voted with the GOP in 2000 and 2004 will be gone. I don''t think you realize how critical they were to your success. Only you brainless, clueless morons masquerading as patriots will still be STUPID enough to vote for the Republicans.

I cannot believe anyone with any sense at all would be bragging about how well the GOP is going to do next year.

[frankly6]

I guess they think that we''ll find this comforting.

[jetlizhan]

''cheney back at work'' - will someone please tell me what does this man do?