Former first lady Barbara Bush has open heart surgery

Barbara Bush, the wife of former US president George H.W. Bush, is recovering from open heart surgery in Texas and will spend the next seven to 10 days recuperating in hospital, according to her surgeon.

"The surgery went extremely well and we were able to successfully replace her aortic valve," said heart surgeon Gerald Lawrie of The Methodist Hospital in Houston, a week after she experienced shortness of breath.

"I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities," he added.

Bush, 83, who was first lady from 1989 until 1993, underwent successful surgery for a perforated ulcer in November at the same hospital, when her son George W. Bush was president. Doctors said the two medical issues were unrelated.

Her husband and former president said he was "very impressed with and grateful to the wonderful team of doctors and nurses at The Methodist Hospital who have helped Barbara."

"We have every confidence she is in the best hands," he added.

The statement said the former first lady was "awake and alert as she recovers in the ICU."

Doctors said the 2.5-hour surgery was scheduled last week after Bush experienced shortness of breath and experts detected a hardened valve in her heart.

The aortic valve provides crucial life function, and when left untreated a hardened aortic valve can result in heart failure and death.

The valve opens to allow blood to be pumped from the heart out to the body, and then closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the heart.










March 4. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke