Cheney has battery for heart device replaced

07/28/2007

http://www.chinaview.cn 2007-07-29 03:29:33

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Saturday had the battery of a heart device implanted in his chest replaced.

Cheney underwent a minor surgery at the George Washington University Hospital, where doctors replaced the generator and battery of his heart device, known as cardioveter-defibrillator that monitors and helps maintain a patient' normal heartbeat.

The vice president walked out of the hospital and returned home after about four hours of operation.

Cheney's spokeswoman Megan McGinn said Friday that doctors had recommended that the battery of the vice president's pacemaker, which was implanted in June 2001, be replaced after his annual medial checkup in June.

In March this year, Cheney, 66, was treated for a blood clot in his left leg, and he was taken to hospital early last year for shortness of breath.

Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, has had four heart attacks, a quadruple bypass surgery, two artery-clearing angioplasties and an operation to implant a special pacemaker in his chest.