Pat Robertson Recovering Following Heart Surgery

RICHMOND, Va. — Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson underwent 10 hours of surgery to repair an irregular heartbeat that put the 79-year-old at higher risk of a deadly stroke or heart attack, his lead surgeon said Monday.

Robertson was back at home in Virginia Beach after his release on Thursday from a hospital in North Carolina. He ultimately will be fitted with a heart monitor, Dr. Andy C. Kiser said.

"Full recovery, that's what I would expect," the cardiothoracic surgeon said in an interview from FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, N.C., where the surgery was conducted Aug. 19.

Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, underwent what Kiser said was a new approach to dealing with atrial fibrillation, called convergence procedure. It involves cauterizing the continually beating heart muscle with heat generated by a radio frequency. It rewires a portion of the heart, in a sense, to correct the irregular beat.

Kiser said the technique is less invasive than traditional surgery and more effective long-term than drugs and their many side effects.

In a separate but related procedure, doctors also removed an abnormally enlarged left appendage on Robertson's heart. They believe the growth contributed to Robertson's atrial fibrillation.

The appendage was 6 centimeters long, or slightly longer than adult pinkie finger.

"Only the prayers of thousands of believing people kept me on this earth," Robertson said in a statement.

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In recent years, Robertson has been successfully treated for prostate cancer, has had partial knee replacement and two previous heart procedures.

Gordon Robertson, who was named CEO of CBN this year and is filling in for his father on the "700 Club," said the elder Robertson is "up and around and doing well."

"I think for the first time in my life I've found him taking seriously the doctor's advice to rest," Robertson said.

The surgery should markedly improve Pat Robertson's quality of life, Kiser said. Patients with atrial fibrillation are two to seven times more likely to have a stroke and are 40 percent more likely to die from it.

Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs programs in nearly 100 languages in more than 225 countries. Its flagship program, the "700 Club" talk show, reaches 1 million American households daily.

He also founded the Christian Coalition, an influential conservative advocacy group, and angered opponents with controversial statements about current events.

The elder Robertson announced plans to retire next summer as president of Regent University, the private Christian college he founded in 1978. He will continue to serve as chancellor and on the board of trustees at the Virginia Beach school known for its evangelical Christian perspective.

"He's been trying to delegate more and more," Robertson said of his father.

___

On the Web:

Christian Broadcasting Network: http://www.cbn.com/

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital: http://www.firsthealth.org/

Comments

[MyUserName]

My Goodness!
I find the comments on this article unbelievab­le....and sad :-(

I wonder why the article was even posted here, other than just to give members something to throw darts at.
Unfortunately it makes it seem as though all the members are heartless haters.
Is this an example of progressive liberals, democrats or people in general?
What ever the answer..I hope I never succumb to this mind set.

Pat Roberson certainly has his faults..as we all do.

But I pray for a quick and healthy recovery for you...and do thank you for all that your organizations do around the world for the sick, poor and down trodden.

They were the first to come into help the Katrina victims. For the medical teams that fly around the world for Cleft Lip Palate Surgeries, Eye and Ear..the list goes on with the thousands of patients that receive free medical help where none is offered.
Building orphanages for forgotten children living on the streets and garbage dumps, going into forgotten villages to cure diseases, build wells for freshwater where none exists.

Mr. Robertson.­.Do I agree with everything about you? No!
But I wish you well and could never find it my heart to judge someone who has brought
MUCH more relief to the suffering around the world than you have ever caused...a­nd much more than all your critics.

[pene]

I don't believe that he has relieved more suffering that he has caused. Show me the facts. Otherwise, you are just a defender of the indefensible and probably paid out of his ill gotten gains.

[BadgersBite]

Why didn't just pray to be healed ??

[truthyguy]

It's God's will - and help for the future of comedy.

[lewes17266]

Read my profile and I hope you don't find it funny.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

Mother always told me if you can't say anything nice about someone don't say anything at al. I'll keep it at that

[hemnebob]

me too.
i am biting my tongue so i won't generate any bad karma, i will leave
that up to the heart patient robertson.

[johnsopinion]

And I'm recovering from a bad attack of arthritis! So?

When "people in the news" start inquiring about my
health, my marital status, my athletic prowess, my
spats with girl friends, my broken fingernail, my
choice of brand-named clothes, my preference of
products, my hopes and desires, etc., maybe then,
maybe, I'll read about the mundane events that get
them through the day.

[CARTERJ]

"Only the prayers of thousands of believing people kept me on this earth".

That is so rich. The doctors, and of course medical science, had nothing whatsoever to do with it.

[nkd]

I want to know what this "... abnormally enlarged left appendage on Robertson's heart." is.

[Kalie]

The anti-Christians are almost as bad as the right wingnuts. I want the same healthcare that Robertson has, experimental treatments and all.

[MyUserName]

Worse!!!!

[mcmutter]

but....but­....isn;t he prepared to just rapture away ?

[naijaman]

So Pat needed surgery? Why didn't he just pray away the health problem?

[Bpeirce]

If GOD really existed ol Pat would never have health problems, he would have eternal life.

[NotStarvingArtist]

Do you think he's on Medicare?

[Davwbaird]

This man is an emeny of mankind and this country. He is evil and a not a christian but a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Strong indictment? His crimes are against mankind.

[ladyvader]

God does not answer prayers. If God did answer prayers, there would never be sick kids. Amputees limbs would grow back. There would never be any bad weather because everything would be sunny and perfect.

[Tennys Daughter]

Thank goodness for you Pat Robertson that God is a merciful God. He looked beyond your FAULTS and saw your need. Too bad you do not extend the same grace and mercy to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

HYPOCRISY at its FINEST.