Dick Cheney Heart Transplant Surgery: Former Vice President Able To Stand, Doing Well

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 25: Former Vice President Dick Cheney is interviewed by SiriusXM Patriot host David Webb at SiriusXM studios on October 25, 2011 in Washington, DC. Cheney recently released his memoir, 'In My Time.' (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney is doing well after undergoing heart transplant surgery over the weekend, a spokeswoman for his family said on Monday.

The 71-year-old, who wielded considerable power as vice president during George W. Bush's presidency from 2001 to 2009, was still in the intensive care unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. His wife and daughters were with him.

"He is awake, and talking and even was able to stand up yesterday," said spokeswoman Kara Ahern. "His doctors are very pleased with the recovery so far."

Cheney, who has suffered five heart attacks, the first at age 37, had been on the cardiac transplant list for more than 20 months before he received a heart from an anonymous donor, the family has said.

Doctors said he was older than the average person to get a heart transplant but was still a good candidate for the surgery because of advances in care.

Survival rates for heart transplants have improved in recent years, with about 88 percent of patients surviving the first year after surgery, and 75 percent staying alive for five years, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Cheney's transplant followed a series of procedures in recent years to extend the use of his heart, including bypass surgery, two angioplasties (procedures to open blocked or narrowed heart arteries), and an implanted heart pump. (Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Comments

[VOLKS818]

03:31 PM on 04/15/2012

This may sound cold and heartless on my part, but so be it :
The man has had recurring heart issues from age of 37.
He has had 5 heart attacks according to this article.
Could it be nature in all her glory saying "DUDE, your time is UP !!!! "
You are not a TIMEX, you can't take a licking and keep on TICKING !!!!!
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST !!!!!
Guess MOTHER NATURE is saying " 'DICK' Cheney TIME TO LEAVE THE BUILDING !!!! "
MONEY DOES NOT BUY HAPPINESS, what it does allow
for is certainly more opportunities and "Do Overs" that the rest of
us 1% US citizens can NOT afford ............ IMO

[SansCulottes08]

01:52 PM on 03/30/2012

It must be strange, having a heart for the very first time at age 71.

[jon the helper]

11:13 PM on 03/28/2012

I can see no conceivable reason to give this man a heart , maybe start with a conscious !

[inoj]

03:29 PM on 03/28/2012

As soon as the poor new heart realizes whose boby it is in, it will spontaneously reject.

[mienemutti]

04:17 PM on 03/27/2012

I hope HP forwards all our 'comments'......

[rollertide]

03:41 PM on 03/27/2012

If Rush Limbaugh doesn't want his insurance covering birth control, what if I don't want my taxes going to pay for the heart transplant of an old government employee who lied so we could go to war and kill thousands of people? And birth control is against Limbaugh's morals?

[enlightened45]

02:14 PM on 03/27/2012

If only the medieval notion that the soul ws based in the heart would turn out to be true...

[mienemutti]

04:14 PM on 03/27/2012

But....WHICH heart would he be based on?

[Kritikos]

12:12 PM on 03/27/2012

Guess his insurance covered a preexisting condition; without the Health Care Mandate, would yours?

[LexterGaines]

11:28 AM on 03/27/2012

Heart transplant? I didn't know Dick Cheney had a heart.

[Blazz]

10:11 AM on 03/27/2012

Well, hoooooooray for government-provided healthcare.

[merrylander]

09:16 AM on 03/27/2012

whatever the outcome of his health situation, Cheney remains one of the most despicable men of our generation.

[drlouise]

09:12 AM on 03/27/2012

I hope his heart was traded in for a kind, compassionate, loving one.

[mienemutti]

04:15 PM on 03/27/2012

Yeah.....maybe it'll reject....the rest of him!

[JohnnyKay]

08:29 AM on 03/27/2012

Mr Cheney has every reason in this world and the next to fear Death.

[libwithaclue]

10:28 AM on 03/27/2012

Yes he does. His father in H@ll is waiting for his return................... Fanned

[mitcheisenstein]

01:06 AM on 03/27/2012

finally they stopped censoring the huff post comments about cheney. some dick replaced every true comment with canned love letters to the ex vp.

[pjccomet]

01:58 PM on 03/27/2012

You got that right. My comments and a friend's comments were censored.

[AggieReal]

12:34 AM on 03/27/2012

It ruined my friend's weekend that he even survived. I imagine not too long before we can dance in the streets like they did after Ghadaffi..