Arnold Schwarzenegger has undergone heart surgery and now recovering in a Los Angeles hospital.
While some initial reports called the operation "emergency surgery," it was actually a routine procedure to replace a pulmonic valve on Thursday (March 29), according to Schwarzenegger's spokesperson Daniel Ketchell. Schwarzenegger is now in stable condition.
"His first words were actually 'I'm back," so he is in good spirits," Ketchell tweeted today.
The operation was apparently needed to replace a valve that the actor originally had installed in 1997 for a congenital heart defect.
"That 1997 replacement valve was never meant to be permanent, and has outlived its life expectancy," Ketchell explained.
You can see the full statement from Ketchell below.
While some initial reports called the operation "emergency surgery," it was actually a routine procedure to replace a pulmonic valve on Thursday (March 29), according to Schwarzenegger's spokesperson Daniel Ketchell. Schwarzenegger is now in stable condition.
"His first words were actually 'I'm back," so he is in good spirits," Ketchell tweeted today.
The operation was apparently needed to replace a valve that the actor originally had installed in 1997 for a congenital heart defect.
"That 1997 replacement valve was never meant to be permanent, and has outlived its life expectancy," Ketchell explained.
You can see the full statement from Ketchell below.
Update: @Schwarzenegger is awake and his first words were actually "I'm back", so he is in good spirits. https://t.co/bJ4pxqS8l6
— Daniel Ketchell (@ketch) March 30, 2018
My statement on Governor @Schwarzenegger's procedure. pic.twitter.com/7RoVtHN43c
— Daniel Ketchell (@ketch) March 30, 2018