US News

Former president Clinton leaves hospital after heart procedure

Feb 12, 2010, 12:52 GMT

Cardiologist Dr. Alan Schwartz (L) speaks to reporters outside of New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Hospital. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

New York - Former US president Bill Clinton left hospital early Friday, a day after undergoing a heart procedure for a blocked artery.

The television channel NBC cited the hospital's head of cardiology Dr Allan Schwartz who treated Clinton as saying that that the former president could return to work again on Monday.

Clinton, 63, had been admitted to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital on Thursday after experiencing some 'discomfort' in his chest.

After the operation, Clinton was described as being in 'good spirits' in a statement by Douglas Band, counselor to the former president.

Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery in September 2004 at the same hospital.

Dr Schwartz said that one of the bypasses was completely blocked up, requiring the stents.

Clinton was up and walking within two hours of the procedure.

'I expect president Clinton to resume his very active lifestyle,' Schwartz said.

The cardiologist said that the blockage in one of Clinton's repaired cardiac arteries was unrelated to the former president's workload. Clinton was travelling in earthquake-ravaged Haiti last week.