Cheney Back At Work After Heart Procedure
Doctors Say Electrical Shock To Vice President's Heart Restored It To Normal Rhythm
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Cheney's Condition Explained
Dr. Emily Senay explains to Harry Smith atrial fibrillation, disordered beating of the upper chambers of the heart, that Vice President Cheney was recently treated for.
-
Video
Cheney Heart Scare
Following a long list of heart troubles, Vice President Dick Cheney was treated for atrial fibrillation, an irregular rhythm in the heart. The White House downplayed concerns. Bill Plante reports.
-
-
Photo
Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Weinberg Founders Conference, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, in Lansdowne, Va. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)
-
Photo
Vice President Dick Cheney's motorcade leaves GW Hospital after doctors administered an electrical shock to the vice president's heart to restore it to a normal rhythm, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. (CBS)
-
-
Interactive
Cheney's Heart Troubles
Learn more about Dick Cheney's history of heart disease and how angioplasty, stents and pacemakers work.
-
Interactive
Second In Command
A closer look at Vice President Dick Cheney's career and his much-publicized health problems.
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.
Cheney has had four heart attacks ... 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.
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.
© MMVII The © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 6
- next
See all 289 CommentsMove out, and THEN "Move On", moonbats.
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.
It''''s God way from preventing the madman Cheney from dragging us into another pointless, counter productive war in IRAN Next!
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 ?
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.
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.
And no sense of humor either.
"Better to go duck hunting with *** Cheney than for a car ride with Ted Kennedy."
(memo to doctor: make a mistake)
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.
(memo to doctor: make a mistake)
Posted by pared1 at 04:29 PM : Nov 26, 2007
+ report abuse
ROTFLMAO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!
+
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.
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!
I''m with you I do not want him to die I want him tried and convicted .So live Cheney Live.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!
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.
"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.
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.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 6
- next
See all 289 Comments